Conductivity of Water

Dr. Mahmuda Parvin

 Conductivity
 A measure of how well a solution conducts
electricity
 Water with absolutely no impurities (does not
exist)
 Conducts electricity very poorly
 Impurities in water increase conductivity
 So, when measure conductivity of water can estimate
the degree of impurities
 Conductivity
 The current is carried by dissolved ions
 The ability of an ion to carry current is a
function of:
 Ions charge (more charge, more current)
 Ions mass or size (larger ions, conduct less)
 Electrolytes
 Electrolytes
 Substances whose aqueous solution is a conductor of
electricity
 Strong electrolytes
 All the electrolyte molecules are dissociated into ions
 Weak electrolytes
 A small percentage of the molecules are dissociated into
ions
 Nonelectrolytes
 None of the molecules are dissociated into ions
Dissociation of Water
Electrolytes
 Strength of Solutions
 Conductivity of various solutions
 Conductivity of a solution is proportional to its
ion concentration
 Since charge on ions in solution facilitates the
conductance of electrical current
 Conductivity Measurement
 Conductivity is measured by
 Two plates placed in the sample
 Potential is applied across the plates and current is
measured
 Conductivity (G), the inverse of resistivity (R)
is determined from the voltage and current
values according to Ohm's law
 G = 1/R = I (amps) / E (volts) E = IR
 Conductivity Units
 Basic unit of conductivity
 Siemens (S), formerly called the mho
 Cell geometry affects conductivity values
 Standardized measurements are expressed in specific
conductivity units (S/cm) to compensate for variations in
electrode dimensions
 Specific conductivity (C) is the product of measured
conductivity (G) and the electrode cell constant (L/A)
 L: length of the column of liquid between the electrode
 A: area of the electrodes
 C = G x (L/A)
 Conductivity of Common Solutions
 Solution  Conductivity
 Absolute pure water  0.055 µS/cm
 Power plant boiler water  1.0 µS/cm
 Good city water  50 µS/cm
 Ocean water  53 mS/cm
 31% HNO3  865 mS/cm
 Conductivity and Temperature
 Conductivity measurements are temperature
dependent
 The degree to which temperature affects
conductivity varies from solution to solution
 Calculated using the following formula:

 Gt = Gtcal {1 + α(T-Tcal)}
 Gt = conductivity at any temp T in °C
 Gtcal = conductivity at calibration temp Tcal in °C

 α = temperature coefficient of solution at Tcal in °C

Conductivity vs. pH
 Conductivity Probe
 2 metals in contact with
electrolyte solution
 Voltage is applied to
electrodes and resulting
current that flows btw
electrodes is used to
determine conductance
 Amount of current flowing
depends on:
 Solution conductivity
 Length, surface area,
geometry of electrodes
 Conductivity Probe
 Apply an AC Voltage to Two Electrodes of Exact Dimensions
 Acids, Bases and Salts (NaCl) Dissolve in Solution and Act as
Current Carriers
 Current Flow is Directly Proportional to the Total Dissolved
Solids in Solution
 Physical Dimensions of a Conductivity Electrode are Referred
to as the Cell Constant
 Cell Constant is Length/Area Relationship
 Distance Between Plates = 1.0 cm
 Area of Each Plate = 1.0 cm x 1.0 cm
 Cell Constant = 1.0 cm-1
 Cell Constant
 Cell constant:
 Measure of current
response of a sensor
conductive solution
 Due to sensor’s
dimensions and
geometry
 Units: cm-1 (length
divided by area)
 Storage
 1. Best to store conductivity probe so that
electrodes are immersed in DI water
 2. Can also store dry
 Before use:
 Probe should be soaked in DI water for 5-10
minutes
 To assure complete wetting of the electrodes
 Cleaning
 1. For most applications, a hot solution of
water with mild lab detergent can be used for
cleaning
 2. Dilute 1% nitric acid may be used followed
by DI water rinsing