CALIBRATION AND MAINTAINANCE OF CONDUCTIVITY METER

AIM:
To calibrate conductivity meter by using standard solutions of potassium chloride.

REQUIREMENTS:
Apparatus: beaker, pipette, volumetric flask. Chemicals: potassium chloride and double distilled water. Instrument: conductivity meter.

PRINCIPLE:
Calibration is the act of comparing the measurements with a standard, traceable to certified authority. It is carried to have accurate results and is a part of regulatory compliance. Calibration is required for a new instrument to make sure that the instrument is providing the accurate indications or output signal, when it is installed. Instrument error can occur due to a variety of factors such as environment and electrical supply etc. since calibration is performed by comparing a known standard to the instrument under test errors are detected. Conductivity meter operates on the principle of measurement of a solution to carry electric current. By using this conductivity meter, resistance of a portion (or aliquot) of sampleunder-test between two parallel electrodes of the conductivity cell is measured and electrolyte conductivity delivered.

THEORY
Electrolytic conductivity is a measure of the ability of a solution to carry electric current. Solutions of electrolytes conduct an electric current by the migration of ions under the influence of an electric field. The current I flowing between the electrodes immersed in the electrolyte will vary inversely with the resistance of the electrolyte R. The reciprocal of Siemens/mhos/reciprocal of ohms.

CONDUTIVITY METER The standard unit of conductance is specific conductance K which is defined as the reciprocal of the resistance in ohms of a 1-cm cube of liquid at a specified temperature. The units of specific conductance are the reciprocal ohm cm. The electrical conductance of the solution is a summation of contributions from the all ions present. It depends upon the number of ions per unit volume of the solution and upon the velocities with which these ions move under the influence of the applied electromotive force. As a solution of an electrolyte is diluted, the specific conductance K will decrease and fewer ions to carry the electric current are present I each cubic centimeter of solution. However, in order to express the ability of individual ions to conduct, a function called the Equivalent conductance is employed.

If C, is the concentration of the solution I gram equivalents per liter, then the volume of the solution in cubic centimeters per equivalent is equal to 1000/C3, so that it becomes. =1000K/ C3 At infinite dilution the ions theoretically are independent of each other and each ion contributes its part to the total conductance, thus

= (+) + (-)
Where (+) and (-) are ionic conductance of cations and anions, respectively, at infinite dilution. The conductivity of the solutions is quite temperature dependent. An increase in temperature invariantly results in an increase in ionic conductance and for most ions this amounts to 2% per degree. For precise work conductance cells must be immersed in a constant temperature bath. It is customary to select 250C for measurements.

LIMITS:
NORMALITY OF KCl SOLUTIONS APPROX. CONDUCTIVITY IN

S/cm AT 250C 0.01N 0.1N 1N 1,409 12,856 1,11,342

PROCEDURE:
1) PREPARATION OF STANDARD SOLUTIONS 1.1) 1NKCl Solution: 7.43g of potassium chloride was dissolved 20ml of double distilled water and the volume was made up to 100ml with double distilled water. 1.2) 0.1NKCl solution: 10ml of 1NKCl solution was made up to 100ml with double distilled water. 1.3) 0.01NKCl solution: 10ml of 0.1NKCl solution was made up to 100ml with double distilled water.

2) CALIBRATION PROCEDURE: 2.1) Switch the instrument ON. 2.2) Pipette out 25ml of 0.01NKCl solution into a beaker and place on the base plate of the Electrode stand. Clip the cell holding clamp at the appropriate height on rod of the Electrode stand such that the electrodes of the cell are immersed in the sample. Connect the conductivity cell to the CELL terminals of the instrument. NOTE: electrodes of the cell must be completely immersed in the solution and no air bubble must be present between the electrodes. 2.3) Select appropriate conductance range and cell constant. 2.4) Push the MEAS/CAL switch to CAL position. 2.5) Set TEMP.0C control to 250C and adjust CAL to get 1000 display on the readout. NOTE: calibration control to be used with TEMP0C set to 250C only. 2.6) Measure eth temperature of 0.01NKCl solution and set the TEMP0C control to the value of measured temperature. 2.7) Push the CAL/MEAS switch to MEAS position.

2.8) Adjust CELL ADJ. control to set the value of the conductivity of the 0.01NKCl solution on the readout. 2.9) Repeat the same procedure with 0.01NKCl solution for another two times. 2.10) The above calibration procedure must be repeated for 0.1N and 1N KCl solutions three times each. 2.11) After completion of calibration procedure with all the three KCl solutions of different concentrations the conductivity cell must be cleaned thoroughly with distilled water.

3) MAINTENANCE OF CONDUCTIVITY CELLS: 3.1) Pre- conditioning: A new conductivity cell must be soaked in distilled water for 24 hours.

3.2) cleaning: Immerse the electrodes of the cell in dilute potassium dichromate in 6N sulphuric acid for one day. Rinse in running water followed by distilled water.

3.3) storage: 3.3.1) conductivity cells should always be kept dipped in distilled water. 3.3.2) if stored dry, conductivity cells should be kept immersed in water at 500C for few hours and soaked in distilled water for atleast 2 hours before use.