How to Calibrate and Use a pH Meter?

Answer 1

A pH meter is normally something that an environmentalist or chemist would use, but some gardeners also make use of it. This meter is used to measure the acidity and alkalinity of a specific liquid. pH is the measure of how many hydrogen ions are present in a solution. Although the meter is very easy to use, it must be cleaned after each time it is used to get a clear reading.

Before you can begin to calibrate your pH meter, you must make sure that the probe you use was kept in a storage solution or a solution with pH 4. If you do not do this, you need to let the probe sit for at least twenty four hours in distilled water. The meter must also be set on pH mode or this will be pointless. When it is set, you should rinse it off with distilled water. To help calibrate it, it will be placed into a solution of pH 7. But before you put it in, make sure that you shake off any distilled water or solution that was left on it.

The probe should be left in the pH 7 solution for at least thirty seconds. This will let the meter stabilize completely so you can change the meter. You should now have the meter at a reading of pH 7. Now, you should take the probe out and rinse it off again. Then, put it into a solution of pH 4. Again, the meter will need a minute to stabilize. Then, you can change the meter to a pH 4 reading. At this point, the meter should be fully calibrated.

You must rinse off the probe again with distilled water and shake off any remaining liquid to get the correct reading. Now, you can put the probe into your liquid sample for a clear reading. You need to let the pH reading settle for about a minute to be more precise. You can now get the pH reading from your sample. When you are completely finished using your probe, you should keep it in a storage solution or a solution of pH 4.