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Methods for Using Handheld pH Meters

Several methods for testing pH levels are available for scientific measures. Over the years, pH testing has evolved from simple strips using color codes to weather-resistant handheld digital devices. In today's modern world, subjectivity is a thing of the past for most scientific pH methods. Other methods, such as fields kits, may not be as precise, but are quick and easy to use by almost anyone.

Digital Kit
- Digital meters are highly accurate and can deliver quck, sustainable results.
  
  Using a digital pH kit gives the tester several advanced options that are considerably more reliable than other methods. Auto calibration and a visible LCD screen make field testing significantly more efficient. Data storage is another benefit, but the real difference with a digital pH tool is its ability to calculate pH accuracy within .02 pH on the go, store the data, then seamlessly integrate it to your computer software programs back in the lab or at home.
Probe and Meter
- Lab equipment such as pH meters are brittle and costly.
  
  A standard probe and meter pH test is a larger device that you would find in a laboratory. Most have digital pH reading outputs up to .001 and are one of the most accurate pH reading methods. Unlike the digital field pH meter, a traditional probe and meter is more brittle in context. The tip of the probe must remain immersed in an acidic solution when not in use in order to prevent the probe membrane on the end from becoming deionized.
Litmus Paper
- Using color coded paper to test pH has been around for centuries.
  
  Any pH readings involving litmus paper will not be as accurate as most other methods, but can give you an accurate indication of the basic conditions of the substance you are testing. Litmus papers contain about 12 dyes from the symbiotic relationship of a fungus and photosynthetic phycobiont (such as green algae or another cynobacterium), or lichens, and transpires red colors in acidic conditions, blue for alkaline and purple for neutral.
Field Kit
- When your eyes sting in the pool, the water is too acidic.
  
  An everyday example of a standard pH field kit is one supplied to lifeguards, who drip different color liquids into a container filled with pool water, shake it around, and record color variations. These types of pH tests are partially subjective but fairly accurate at determining chlorine, alkalinity and pH. The standards of pH in a pool should be as close to 7.2 as possible as pH that is too acidic may dissolve various surfaces. A pH balance that is too basic will reduce the chlorine's ability to decontaminate the water.

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