Re: [RML] pH & email addy

Wright Huntley (huntley1 at home.com)
Thu, 25 Mar 1999 13:54:56 -0800

Chad Mastbergen wrote:
>
> Ok all here is a question for you. I have an argument going with soils prof.. What is the pH of distilled water when at equilbrium with the atmosperic air. He says it is 5.7 I say 6.2. ANybody know the correct answer? I don't have acess to a hand book of Chemistry until Monday.

In a practical sense, it is neither, or both. pH of good distilled water is not
measurable without heroic efforts. Lack of buffering makes the tiniest
contamination (e.g., an indicator liquid) dominate the measurement.
Contaminated (and most all are) pH-meter probes would do the same.

It *can* be done, but the answer is pretty meaningless anyway. It's like "How
high is up?"*

Wright

________________________
* Twice as far as half way up. <g>

-- 
Wright Huntley, Fremont CA, USA, 510 494-8679  huntley1 at home dot com


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