Tutorial

Training Program
Calibrating the pH Sensor 1 of 7

Calibrating the pH Sensor

(pH Sensor)
Concept
Introduction

SW Interface
500/700/750

DataStudio Feature
Analog Sensor Calibration

EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES

ScienceWorkshop Interface
pH Sensor
Beaker, 100 ml (3)
Marker pen (optional)
Beaker, 500 ml

Alka-Seltzer Tablet
Buffer solutions, low and high pH
Distilled water
Fruit juice, e.g.- cranberry

PURPOSE
The purpose of this activity is to learn to calibrate a sensor and to use a calibrated pH sensor to
measure the pH of fruit juice as it reacts with Alka-Seltzer.
BACKGROUND
The definition of pH, or pondus hydrogeni, is the negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion activity,
pH = -log aH+ = -log mH+ H+,
where aH+ is the activity, mH+ is molality, and H+ is the activity coefficient of the H+ ion.
The pH electrode, like most instruments used in scientific measurements, depends upon accurate
calibration and traceability to national standards. Age, changes in temperature and mechanical stress, can alter
equipment performance and lead to unreliable test results. The process of calibration allows for the detection and
correction of this drift, by comparing the performance of the instrument to a standard of known accuracy. A
properly calibrated device ensures reproducibility.
PROCEDURE
In this activity, you will calibrate the pH sensor and then record the pH as Alka Seltzer and fruit
juice react.

men/ph

1999, PASCO scientific

Revised 01/06/17

Tutorial

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Experiment Setup - Hardware

1.

Connect the DIN plug of the pH Sensor to Analog Channel A on the interface.

2.

Connect the BNC plug of the pH Electrode to the connector on the pH Amplifier electronics
box. Turn the BNC plug clockwise, until it clicks into place. Do not remove the pH
electrode from the bottle of storage solution.

3.

Place deionized water into a beaker and label it accordingly.

4.

Pour the low pH buffer solution into a second beaker to a depth of approximately 2.5 cm.
Label the beaker with the pH of the buffer solution.

5.

Pour the high pH buffer solution into a third, labeled beaker.

6.

Pour approximately 100 ml of fruit juice into the 500 ml beaker.

Experiment Setup Software

1.

To create your own DataStudio

experiment, open the DataStudio (
program.

2.

A window will appear with a Welcome to

DataStudio dialog box, and four options
on how you may use the program. In this
activity you will construct an experiment
from scratch. Select the Create
Experiment option.

3.

The DataStudio main screen will appear.

men/ph

1999, PASCO scientific

Revised 01/06/17

Tutorial

4.

Training Program
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Plug a pH Sensor into Analog

Channel A by scrolling down the
Sensor List and double clicking on
the pH Sensor icon (
).

Create a Graph Display of pH vs. Time (s). Double click on the Graph icon (
) in the Display List on the Summary. The Graph Display will plot the
pH for the sensor in Analog Channel A.
5.

Create a Digits Display by double clicking on the Digits Display icon (

) in the Displays List.

Calibrating the Sensor

1.

To calibrate the sensor, double click on the pH sensor icon which is plugged
into the interface in the Experiment Setup window.

Double click
here to calibrate the sensor.

men/ph

1999, PASCO scientific

Revised 01/06/17

Tutorial

2.

The Sensor Properties window will open.

3.

Click on the Calibration tab.

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1999, PASCO scientific

Training Program
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Revised 01/06/17

Tutorial

Training Program
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4.

Rinse the storage buffer solution from the pH electrode using deionized water.

5.

Touch the end of the electrode to a lint free tissue or paper towel to remove the excess
water.

6.

Place the pH electrode in the buffer solution with the lower pH.

7.

When the Current Reading value stabilizes, click the Take Reading button (
under Low Point Voltage/Value (right hand side) for the low pH value.

8.

Enter the pH of the buffer in the Low Point Value box (

9.

Rinse the pH electrode with deionized water and remove the excess water.

).

10. Place the pH electrode in the buffer solution with the high value.
11. When the Current Reading value stabilizes, click the Take Reading button (
under High Point Voltage/Value (left hand side) for the high pH value.

12. Enter the pH of the buffer in the High Point Value box (

).

13. Click OK to return to the Experiment Setup window.

14. Close the Experiment Setup window and arrange the displays so you can see them all.

men/ph

1999, PASCO scientific

Revised 01/06/17

Tutorial

Training Program
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Data Collection
1.

Remove one Alka-Seltzer tablet from the package.

2.

Place the pH electrode in the beaker with the fruit juice.

3.

Click the Start button (

displays.

4.

After about 10 seconds have elapsed, add one Alka-Seltzer tablet to the fruit juice.

5.

Continue to watch the pH values.

6.

When the pH value no longer increases, click the Stop button (

collection.

) to begin recording data. Watch the pH values in the

Run #1 will appear in the Data List (

) to end the data

) on the Summary.

ANALYZING THE DATA

1.

Click on the Graph display to make it the active window.

2.

Use the Smart Tool to find the initial and final pH for the fruit juice. Click the Smart Tool
button (
) on the Graph toolbar. The Smart Tool (
) will appear as a crosshair in the
center of the graph. Move the mouse pointer to the center of the crosshair. When the cursor
changes to the Smart Tool cursor (
) click, hold, and drag the Smart Tool to the curve.
Release the mouse button. The pH will appear as the y-value in the coordinate pair
displayed next to the Smart Tool cursor.

3.

Record the initial and final pH in the Data Table below.

Data Table
Initial

Final

pH

men/ph

1999, PASCO scientific

Revised 01/06/17

Tutorial

Training Program
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QUESTIONS
1.

Describe the change in pH over time for the fruit juice/Alka-Seltzer mixture.

2.

Calibration can be applied to many types of equipment to correct and minimize errors.
Properly calibrated equipment increases production yields, assures consistency, and ensures
that your measurements can be duplicated elsewhere. Using the information obtained from
this activity, how would you calibrate the Temperature Sensor?

men/ph

1999, PASCO scientific

Revised 01/06/17