BRITISH STANDARD BS 1647-1:

1984
Incorporating
Amendment No. 1

pH measurement —
Part 1: Specification for pH scale

Confirmed
February 2012
BS 1647-1:1984

Committees responsible for this

British Standard

The preparation of this British Standard was entrusted by the Laboratory

Apparatus Standards Committee (LBC/-) to Technical Committee LBC/16
upon which the following bodies were represented:

British Kinematograph, Sound and Television Society

British Pharmacopoeia Commission
Chemical Industries Association
Department of Trade and Industry (National Physical Laboratory)
Electricity Supply Industry in England and Wales
GAMBICA (BEAMA Ltd.)
Institute of Medical Laboratory Sciences
Royal Society of Chemistry
Sira Ltd.
Society for Applied Bacteriology
Society of Chemical Industry
Society of Dairy Technology
Society of Glass Technology
University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne

This British Standard, having

been prepared under the
direction of the Laboratory
Apparatus Standards
Committee, was published
under the authority of the Board
of BSI and comes into effect on
31 December 1984

© BSI 08-1999

First published as BS 1647

May 1950 Amendments issued since publication
First revision August 1961
Second Part revision Part 1
December 1984
Amd. No. Date of issue Comments

5567 May 1987 Indicated by a sideline in the margin

The following BSI references
relate to the work on this
standard:
Committee reference LBC/16
Draft for comment 79/55106

ISBN 0 580 14099 7

 BS 1647-1:1984

Contents

Page
Committees responsible Inside front cover
Foreword ii
1 Scope 1
2 Definitions 1
3 pH scale 2
4 Reference value standard solution 2
5 Slope factor 3
Appendix A Interpretation of pH measurements 4
Appendix B Outline procedures for measurement of pH values 6
Appendix C Bibliography 7
Table 1 — Accuracy classes for pH measurements 2
Table 2 — pH values of the reference value standard solution at
various temperatures 3
Table 3 — Values of the slope factor 3
Publications referred to Inside back cover

© BSI 08-1999 i
BS 1647-1:1984

Foreword

This British Standard was first published in 1950 and was prepared by a
technical committee directly under the aegis of the Chemical Divisional Council
following recommendations made at a conference, held in 1948 at the request of
the Royal Society, to discuss the need for a standard pH scale. It was revised
in 1961 to extend the temperature range covered in the definition of pH from
between 0 °C and 60 °C to between 0 °C and 95 °C. This revision, in two Parts, of
BS 1647 has been prepared under the direction of the Laboratory Apparatus
Standards Committee by the technical committee responsible for BS 2586 and
BS 3145. This Part, together with Part 2, supersedes BS 1647:1961 which is
withdrawn.
At the time of preparation of this revision of this British Standard, discussions
were under way with a view to harmonizing the standards and recommendations
were being prepared by four international organizations. These were:
Subcommittee 1 (General methods) of TC 47 (Chemistry) of the International
Organization for Standardization (ISO), Subcommittee D (Analysing equipment)
of TC 66 (Electronic measuring equipment) of the International Electrotechnical
Commission (IEC), the International Organization for Legal Metrology (OIML)
and the International Union for Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC).
The technical committee responsible for this Part of this standard played a
leading role in this work and, as a safe-guard against the possibility of agreement
not being reached in the short term, recommended the publication of this
revision. It is based on a critical re-examination of some of the earlier
experimental work and on new work carried out at the University of
Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
The object of this Part of this standard is to ensure that, when different workers
refer to a stated value of pH to two or more decimal places, they mean the same
thing to within 0.01 in the temperature range 0 °C to 60 °C and approaching 0.01
at higher temperatures. It is occasionally desirable to measure and to quote pH
values to more than two decimal places, but the significance of such additional
figures may sometimes be uncertain. The principal change in this revision is to
include more details of the procedures for making pH measurements in order that
they may have the greatest possible reproducibility and repeatability.
The definition adopted for pH is an operational one, i.e. it is based on the
operation used to determine it using an electrochemical cell, referred to as the
“operational cell” in this Part of this standard. No simple physical interpretation
of pH values can be made in terms of either hydrogen ion concentration or
hydrogen ion activity except when the test solution is a dilute aqueous electrolyte
solution of simple composition. For this reason, pH should be regarded as simply
a reproducible scale related to “acidity”, and this is all that is required for most
technological purposes. For the interpretation of pH values, see Appendix A.
When the test solution contains organic matter, suspended or dissolved,
reproducibility may not be high but is usually adequate for the purposes for which
the pH measurement is required. The definition of the pH scale in terms of a
single reference value standard solution has been reaffirmed. This definition
differs from most other definitions of pH scales given in national standards
(see review [1]) which, in common with the scale adopted by the National Bureau
of Standards (NBS), USA [2] are multi-standard scales. Nevertheless,
within 0.02, and possibly less, in the pH range 3 to 9 and the temperature
range 0 °C to 60 °C, there is no practical difference between the pH scale defined
in this Part of this standard and the NBS recommendations. A general account of
the problems of pH standardization and measurement can be found elsewhere
(see [3] and [4]).
The pH value of an unknown solution is measured with a pH meter against the
pH scale specified in this standard using the operational standard solutions
specified in Part 2 of this standard for calibration of the pH meter.

ii © BSI 08-1999
 BS 1647-1:1984

A British Standard does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a
contract. Users of British Standards are responsible for their correct application.
Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself confer immunity
from legal obligations.

Summary of pages
This document comprises a front cover, an inside front cover, pages i to iv,
pages 1 to 8, an inside back cover and a back cover.
This standard has been updated (see copyright date) and may have had
amendments incorporated. This will be indicated in the amendment table on the
inside front cover.

© BSI 08-1999 iii

iv blank
 BS 1647-1:1984

1 Scope 2.4
filling solution (of a reference electrode)
This Part of BS 1647 specifies requirements for a
pH scale in terms of a single reference value a solution containing the anion to which the
standard aqueous solution of potassium hydrogen reference electrode of the operational pH cell is
phthalate with a molality of 0.05 mol/kg, and the reversible, e.g. chloride for the silver/silver chloride
(theoretical) slope factor. This pH scale is electrode
appropriate for pH measurements of aqueous NOTE In the absence of a bridge solution (2.5), a high
solutions at temperatures in the range 0 °C to 95 °C concentration of filling solution, comprising cations and anions of
almost equal mobility, is employed as a means of maintaining a
using, for calibration, the operational standard small and approximately constant liquid junction potential on
solutions specified in Part 2 of this standard. substitution of the test solution for the standard reference
NOTE 1 Practical pH measurements are based on one or more solution(s).
of the operational reference standard solutions according to 2.5
circumstances and the reference value standard solution is
included in the list of operational standard reference solutions
bridge solution (of a double junction reference
from which the choice is to be made. electrode)
NOTE 2 The procedures described in Appendix B are suitable a solution of high concentration of an inert salt,
for all pH measurements, including those where other solvents
and suspended matter are present, but where the electrode preferably comprising cations and anions of almost
system is calibrated against reference materials in aqueous equal mobility, optionally interposed between the
solution. A.4 gives information about scales for non-aqueous and reference electrode filling solution (2.4) and both the
mixed aqueous solvents.
test solution and the standard reference solution,
The best repeatability generally obtainable is ± 0.003 but may be
considerably worse than this in solutions containing reactive when the test solution and the filling solution are
materials and suspended matter, especially at the extremes of chemically incompatible
the pH range 0 to 14 and at temperatures above 60 °C. NOTE This procedure introduces a second liquid junction into
Guidance on interpretation of pH measurements is given in the operational cell and is usually formed in a similar way to the
Appendix A and guidance on accuracy of pH measurements is first.
given in Appendix B.
NOTE 3 The titles of the publications referred to in this Part of 2.6
this standard are listed on the inside back cover. residual liquid junction (potential) error
an error arising from the assumption that the liquid
2 Definitions junction potential does not vary with the
For the purposes of this Part of BS 1647 the composition and concentration of the test and
following definitions apply. standard solutions
2.1 2.7
operational pH cell pH glass electrode
an electrochemical cell that is the basis of practical an electrode responsive to hydrogen ions, usually
pH measurements, consisting of an electrode consisting of a bulb, or other suitable form, of special
responsive to hydrogen ions (hydrogen gas glass attached to a stem of high resistance material
electrode, or glass electrode) and a reference with internal reference electrode and internal filling
electrode dipping into the test solution solution system (see BS 2586)
2.2 NOTE Other geometrical forms may be appropriate for special
applications, e.g. a capillary electrode for measuring the pH of
reference electrode blood.
an external electrode system that incorporates a 2.8
filling solution and a means, such as a ceramic plug pH meter
or frit, of forming the liquid junction
a high impedance instrument by means of which
NOTE Usually this reference system has either a
mercury/calomel (dimercury dichloride) or a silver/silver chloride either the pH of a solution or the potential difference
inner element in contact with a concentrated solution of between a pair of electrodes immersed in a solution
potassium chloride as filling solution. is indicated (see BS 3145).
2.3
liquid junction
any junction between two electrolyte solutions of
different composition
NOTE Across such a junction there arises a potential difference
called the liquid junction potential. In the operational cell (2.1)
the junction is between the test solution or the pH standard
reference solution and the filling solution or the bridge
solution (2.5) of the reference electrode.

© BSI 08-1999 1
BS 1647-1:1984

2.9 3 pH scale
slope factor, k
The pH scale shall be a straight line drawn through
the temperature-dependent proportionality factor a single pH value at a particular temperature
between potential and pH, calculated from the specified for the reference value standard solution
expression as specified in clause 4 and having a slope factor as
(In 10) RT/F specified in clause 5.
where NOTE The procedure by which pH values have been assigned to
this reference value standard solution is that specified in Part 2
R is the universal gas constant; of this standard. The convention of Bates and Guggenheim [5]
T is the absolute temperature; has been adopted for the single ion activity coefficient of the
chloride ion using equation (1).
F is the Faraday constant.
NOTE The slope factor is tabulated in Table 3. – lg*cl– = AI1/2/[1 + 1.5I1/2] (1)
2.10
pH reference value standard solution where
a solution that is the basis for the definition of a pH I is the ionic strength (not greater than 0.1
scale in the temperature range 0 °C to 95 °C mol·kg–1);
2.11 A is the temperature dependent parameter of
pH operational reference standard solutions the Debye — Huckel Theory
solutions with pH values assigned by the (A = 0.5108 mol–1/2·kg1/2 at 25 °C).
operational cell method (see Part 2 of this standard)
with reference to values of the reference value pH 4 Reference value standard solution
standard at each temperature The reference value standard solution shall consist
2.12 of 0.05 mol of potassium hydrogen phthalate in 1 kg
internal reference electrode (of a pH glass of pure water, prepared as specified in Part 2 of this
electrode) standard.
an electrode, e.g. silver/silver chloride, terminating The pH value of the reference value standard
the screened input cable of the pH meter, and in solution at any temperature in the
contact with the internal filling solution range 0 °C to 95 °C shall be in accordance with the
following equation:
2.13
test solution pH(S) = A + B (T – 298.15) + C (T – 298.15)2 (2)
the solution of which the pH value is required where
2.14 T = temperature (in K);
accuracy class
A = 4.00480;
a classification of pH measurements, the accuracy of B = 0.0010007;
which is designated by a number representing the
limit of error expressed as a percentage of the upper C = 0.000032745.
limit of the normal range of pH (0 to 14) as given in NOTE 1 Values of the pH of the reference value standard
Table 1 solution at various temperatures are given in Table 2.
NOTE 2 Values of the pH reference value standard solution for
Table 1 — Accuracy classes for pH the temperature range 100 °C to 200 °C, not covered by this
measurements standard, have been reported [6].
NOTE 3 Equation (2) is based on recent work [7] taking note of
Accuracy class Tolerance of pH value, ±
earlier work [8, 9, 10].
0.02 0.003 pH values shall not differ from the values given in
0.1 0.014 Table 1 by more than ± 0.003 at 25 °C, by more
0.3 0.042 than ± 0.005 between 5 °C and 20 °C, by more
1.5 0.20 than ± 0.01 between 30 °C and 65 °C and by more
than ± 0.02 above 65 °C.

2 © BSI 08-1999
 BS 1647-1:1984

Table 2 — pH values of the reference value Table 3 — Values of the slope factor
standard solution at various temperatures Temperature, t Slope Temperature, t Slope
Temperature, t pH Temperature, t pH factor, k factor, k

°C °C °C mV °C mV

0 4.000 50 4.050 0 54.199 50 64.120

5 3.998 55 4.064 5 55.191 55 65.112
10 3.997 60 4.080 10 56.183 60 66.104
15 3.998 65 4.097 15 57.175 65 67.096
20 4.001 70 4.116 20 58.167 70 68.088
25 4.005 75 4.137 25 59.159 75 69.081
30 4.011 80 4.159 30 60.152 80 70.073
35 4.018 85 4.183 35 61.144 85 71.065
37 4.022 90 4.21 37 61.540 90 72.057
40 4.027 95 4.24 40 62.136 95 73.049
45 4.038 45 63.128

5 Slope factor
The slope factor, k, shall be in accordance with the
following equation:

k = RT
-------- In 10 (3)
F

where
R is the universal gas
constant = 8.31441 J·K–1 ·mol–1;
T is the temperature (in K);
F is the Faraday constant = 9.648456 × 104
C·mol–1;
In 10 = 2.302585.
NOTE Values of k at various temperatures are given in Table 3.

© BSI 08-1999 3
BS 1647-1:1984

Appendix A Interpretation of pH In dilute aqueous solutions, the concentration of

measurements water is negligibly affected by its dissociation or,
expressed alternatively, the activity of water is
A.1 Activity and concentration effectively unity, so the equilibrium constant for the
Originally pH was defined as referring to the process can be formulated as
hydrogen ion concentration of a solution, then later Kw = [H+] [OH–] (6)
to the hydrogen ion activity of a solution. If either is
represented by [H+] then where
pH = – lg [H+] (4) Kw is the autoprotolysis constant or ionic
product of water.
Although this expression can be used as a notional
definition and to give an interpretation to pH values At ambient temperatures its value is found to be
under certain limiting conditions, neither the close to 10–14 (mol/L)2 but it is strongly
hydrogen ion concentration nor hydrogen ion temperature-dependent.
activity can be rigorously derived from
In pure water, the dissociation is extremely small
electromotive force measurements. Indeed, it is for
and activity coefficients are effectively unity, so at
this reason that the operational definition of
ambient temperature
clause 3 has gained universal acceptance.
It should be noted that pH is a dimensionless [H+] = [OH–] = Kw1/2 = 10–7 mol/L (7)
quantity. It is not strictly correct to write, in and the solution is at the neutral point, pH = 7. This
isolation, the logarithm of a quantity other than a value is 7.5 at 0 °C and 6.5 at 60 °C.
dimensionless number, and the full form of
equation (4) is either For a 1 mol/L solution of a strong monoprotic,
inorganic acid, [H+] is approximately 10° mol/L and
m ¾ therefore this solution has pH = 0. For a 1 mol/L
pH = – lg ------- H or
mo solution of a strong alkali, [OH–] is
(5) approximately 10° mol/L; therefore
c y
pH = – lg ----- H [H+] = 10–14 mol/L and pH = 14. The range of pH
co measurements is therefore usually considered to
be 0 to 14. However, if 10 mol/L solutions of acid and
where alkali are considered, the range of the pH scale is
approximately – 1 to 15.
mo and Co are arbitrary constants, representing
the standard state condition A.3 Activity coefficient
numerically equal to either 1 mol/kg The quantity pH specified in this Part of this
or 1 mol/L respectively; standard and measured by the procedures described
in Appendix B has no simple interpretation.
m is the molality of hydrogen ion;
However, within a restricted range of dilute
c is the molarity of hydrogen ion; aqueous solutions (not exceeding 0.1 mol/L) in the
*H, YH are single ion activity coefficients of pH range 2 to 12, i.e. for solutions closely matching
hydrogen ion on the molality and the concentrations and compositions of the
molarity scales respectively. reference value and operational reference standard
solutions, the definition is such that
For most purposes the difference between molarity pH = – lg (cy ±/co) ± 0.02 (8)
and molality for dilute aqueous solutions can be
ignored. The effect on the pH value of expressing the where c denotes the hydrogen ion concentration
concentration in these different units depends on (molarity or molality) and y ± denotes the mean
the density of water and is about 0.001 at 25 °C ionic activity coefficient of a typical uni-univalent
rising to 0.02 at 100 °C. electrolyte in solution. The uncertainty of ± 0.02 in
A.2 The usual range of pH pH corresponds to an uncertainty of ± 3.9 % in
The hydrogen ion and hydroxyl ion concentrations concentration.
in aqueous solutions are related through their
equilibrium with water molecules as follows:
H2 O ´ H+ + OH–
NOTE The symbol H+ is used to represent the hydrated
hydrogen ion, which occurs as H3O+ and higher hydrates.

4 © BSI 08-1999
 BS 1647-1:1984

A.4 Non-aqueous media A.5 pH measurements on blood and body

Using standard solutions prepared using fluids
non-aqueous and mixed aqueous solvents it is For pH measurements on blood (reference range for
possible to set up pH scales for other solvent normal subjects: pH = 7.35 to 7.45) it is customary
systems. The reference value standard solution (or to calibrate the pH meter assembly
solutions, since multi-standard scales appear to be with 0.025 mol/L phosphate buffer (see E.6 of
favoured) is established by the method described in BS 1647-2:1984) or, since a two-point
Appendix B. So far, such scales are available for standardization is almost always used, also with the
very few systems, e.g. methanol/water, see [11], and so-called “physiological” phosphate standard
heavy water (D2O), see [12]. Often for the reference solution buffer (see E.7 of
operational measurement the reference electrode BS 1647-2:1984). Both of these reference solutions
filling solution is made up in the new solvent and have an ionic strength of 0.1 mol/L which is close to
not in water, but this is not essential. the ionic strength of blood and isotonic saline
(0.15 mol/L to 0.16 mol/L) so the residual liquid
junction potential is expected to be small. It seems
likely that standard reference solutions with ionic
strengths matching those of blood and body fluids
will be developed soon (see reference [13]) and a
special pH scale appropriate to this ionic strength
will be required, as in the case of sea-water and
various mixed aqueous solvents where residual
liquid junction potentials are large. Such
considerations are important if any attempt is to be
made to interpret pH measurements in terms of
hydrogen ion activity or concentration in order to
deduce speciation in solution. An example of this is
the use of pH measurements and
PCO determination to obtain hydrogen carbonate
2
ion concentrations in blood. Such measurements are
complicated also by the effect of the protein content
and suspended matter on the liquid junction
potential and, to overcome this, flowing junctions
are often employed. Adsorption of proteins can also
affect the response of glass electrodes. The precision
of pH measurements of serum has been studied
(see [14]) suggesting a standard deviation of
repeatability and reproducibility of 0.011 and 0.026
in pH respectively. These values are of the same
order as, or greater than, the systematic
difference (0.013) between the operationally
assigned pH(S) value for 0.025 mol/L phosphate
buffer at 37 °C and that based on cells without
liquid junctions. The latter have been preferred in
current medical work because the value for the
“physiological” pH standard reference solution
aligning with the pH scale defined in this Part of
this standard was not previously available. A
change in the values adopted for the reference
solution affects values obtained for hydrogen
carbonate ion; for example, the difference of 0.013 in
pH corresponds to 0.8 mmol HCO3, or 0.17 kPa for
PCO (1.3 mmHg PCO ).
2 2
The difference lies within the uncertainty of
estimation of activity coefficients and hence neither
value could be said to be more fundamental than the
other.

© BSI 08-1999 5
BS 1647-1:1984

Appendix B Outline procedures for To facilitate this, some pH meters are provided with a slope factor
adjustment control which permits a correction to be made for
measurement of pH values linear but less than theoretical behaviour of the glass electrode.
In order to use this facility, the isopotential control (preferably
B.1 General referred to as the output zero control) should be set to the pH
The procedures which should be adopted for pH value of the first reference solution, and the slope factor control
adjusted so that the readout coincides with the pH of the second
measurements depend on the particular reference solution. Unless the output zero control is adjusted in
application1) and the accuracy required in the this way, the slope factor control and set buffer control will not be
measurement, and are conveniently divided into independent. pH meters without output zero control usually have
four accuracy classes (see 2.14) as described in B.2 a fixed zero value of pH = 7.0. This method of correction should
be used with caution as variations in liquid junction potential
to B.5. A suitable text such as that of Bates [3] error, carbon dioxide contamination, alkaline errors of the glass
should be consulted for further details. electrode and memory effects may each lead to an apparent drop
below the theoretical slope factor value. Doubts about the
B.2 Measurements of accuracy satisfactory functioning of the glass electrode should be resolved
class 0.02 (± 0.003 in pH) by carrying out the check tests described in BS 2586.
For measurements of accuracy class 0.02, use very NOTE 2 Even when using the best available glass electrodes,
errors due to the glass electrode may occur in alkaline solutions,
carefully selected glass electrodes showing only particularly those containing sodium ions. Such errors may be
small drifts with time. Most commercially available measured at particular pH values using the procedures and test
reference electrodes are not capable of giving solutions described in BS 2586.
adequate reproducibility of performance for NOTE 3 When transferring between solutions, electrodes may
be washed with a little of the solution in which they are to be
measurements of this class. Use silver/silver placed. The alternative techniques of washing with distilled
chloride electrodes freshly prepared as described in water and/or swabbing with filter or tissue paper are less
BS 2586, in contact with 3.5 mol/L KCl saturated satisfactory as they may introduce an electrostatic charge into
with AgCl. the high impedance measuring circuit with the result that
drifting potential values may be observed.
Use a pH meter complying with the requirements of NOTE 4 Above 45 °C the calomel electrode may be subject to
BS 3145 and having a scale interval of 0.005 or a temperature hysteresis because of calomel disproportionation
representation unit of 0.001. reaction, and the silver/silver chloride electrode should therefore
be used above 45 °C.
B.3 Measurements of accuracy NOTE 5 Suspended matter, proteins, etc. may coat the surface
class 0.1 (± 0.014 in pH) of the glass electrode and also interfere with the formation of the
liquid junction at the reference electrode.
B.3.1 For measurements of accuracy class 0.1, it B.4 Measurements of accuracy
may be necessary to select the electrodes to be used class 0.3 (± 0.042 in pH)
with care. The procedures for checking the
operation of commercial pH glass electrodes and Accuracy class 0.3 is adequate for most routine pH
reference electrodes and of pH combination measurements at or near room temperature. For
electrodes given in BS 2586 should be followed. extreme conditions, check the performance of both
glass and reference electrodes after exposure to the
B.3.2 Use a pH meter conforming with the test solution. Use a pH meter complying with the
requirements of BS 3145 with a scale interval 0.05 requirements of BS 3145 with a scale interval or
or representation unit 0.01. Calibrate the pH meter representation unit suitable for the measurements.
and electrode assembly with one operational
standard reference solution before and after the test B.5 Measurements of accuracy class 1.5 (± 0.2
solution measurement. in pH)
NOTE 1 To minimize errors from all sources, the bracketing Accuracy class 1.5 covers most pH measurements of
procedure may be employed in which two operational standard a simple diagnostic nature requiring a crude index
reference solutions are used, one on each side of, and as close as of acidity or alkalinity. Few precautions are
possible to, the pH of the sample, all solutions being at the same
temperature. The measurements on the two operational
necessary.
standard reference solutions are often used to check, and reduce B.6 Expression of results
if necessary, the effective value of the slope factor (see Table 1).
In reporting measurements of pH(X), the following
information should be provided:
a) manufacturer and type of glass and reference
electrode; method of forming the liquid junction
at the reference electrode;

1)
See, for example, BS 2690-109.

6 © BSI 08-1999
 BS 1647-1:1984

b) manufacturer, type and scale interval or 5. Bates R.G. and Guggenheim E.A. Pure and Appl.
representation unit (see BS 3145) of pH meter; Chem., 1960, 1, 163.
c) method used to calibrate the pH meter system, 6. Covington A.K., Ferra M.I.A. and Zou Z.Y.
for example: either Electrochim. Acta., 1985, 30, 805—809.
1) system calibrated with operational standard 7. Butikofer H.P. and Covington A.K. Anal. Chim.
pH(OS) = . . . at . . . K; or Acta, 1979, 108, 179.
2) system calibrated with 2 operational 8. Hamer W.J., Pinching G. and Acree S.F. J. Res.
standards pH(OS) . . . and . . . at . . . K. NBS, 1946, 36, 47.
9. Bower V.E. and Bates R.G. J. Res.
Appendix C Bibliography NBS, 1957, 59, 261.
1. Durst R.A. and Cali J.P. Recommended reference 10. Bates R.G., Durst R.A., Hetzer H.B. and
materials for the realization of physiochemical Robinson R.A. J. Res. NBS, 1977, 81A, 21.
properties. Section: Potentiometric ion activities. 11. Paabo M., Robinson R.A. and
Pure and Applied Chem., 1978, 50, 1485-1517. Bates R.G. J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 1965, 87, 415.
2. Durst R.A. Standardization of pH Measurements, 12. Paabo M. and Bates R.G. Anal.
USA Dept. Commerce, Washington DC, NBS Chem., 1969, 41, 283.
Special Publ. No. 260-53, 1975.
13. Bates R.G., Vega C.A. and White D.R. Anal.
3. Bates R.G. Determination of pH, Theory and Chem., 1978, 50, 1295.
Practice, 2nd ed., New York, Wiley, 1973; Crit. Rev.
Anal. Chem., 1981, 10, 247. 14. Minty B.D. and Nunn J.F. Ann. Clin.
Biochem., 1977, 14, 245.
4. Covington A.K. Anal. Chim. Acta, 1981, 127, 1.

© BSI 08-1999 7
8 blank
 BS 1647-1:1984

Publications referred to

BS 1647, pH measurement.
BS 1647-2, Specification for reference value standard solutions and operational reference standard
solutions.
BS 2586, Specification for glass and reference electrodes for the measurement of pH.
BS 2690, Methods of testing water used in industry.
BS 2690-109, Alkalinity, acidity, pH value and carbon dioxide.
BS 3145, Specification for laboratory pH meters.

© BSI 08-1999
BS 1647-1:
1984
BSI — British Standards Institution
BSI is the independent national body responsible for preparing
British Standards. It presents the UK view on standards in Europe and at the
international level. It is incorporated by Royal Charter.

Revisions

British Standards are updated by amendment or revision. Users of

British Standards should make sure that they possess the latest amendments or
editions.

It is the constant aim of BSI to improve the quality of our products and services.
We would be grateful if anyone finding an inaccuracy or ambiguity while using
this British Standard would inform the Secretary of the technical committee
responsible, the identity of which can be found on the inside front cover.
Tel: 020 8996 9000. Fax: 020 8996 7400.

BSI offers members an individual updating service called PLUS which ensures
that subscribers automatically receive the latest editions of standards.

Buying standards

Orders for all BSI, international and foreign standards publications should be
addressed to Customer Services. Tel: 020 8996 9001. Fax: 020 8996 7001.

In response to orders for international standards, it is BSI policy to supply the

BSI implementation of those that have been published as British Standards,
unless otherwise requested.

Information on standards

BSI provides a wide range of information on national, European and

international standards through its Library and its Technical Help to Exporters
Service. Various BSI electronic information services are also available which give
details on all its products and services. Contact the Information Centre.
Tel: 020 8996 7111. Fax: 020 8996 7048.

Subscribing members of BSI are kept up to date with standards developments

and receive substantial discounts on the purchase price of standards. For details
of these and other benefits contact Membership Administration.
Tel: 020 8996 7002. Fax: 020 8996 7001.

Copyright

Copyright subsists in all BSI publications. BSI also holds the copyright, in the
UK, of the publications of the internationalstandardization bodies. Except as
permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 no extract may be
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any
means – electronic, photocopying, recording or otherwise – without prior written
permission from BSI.

This does not preclude the free use, in the course of implementing the standard,
of necessary details such as symbols, and size, type or grade designations. If these
details are to be used for any other purpose than implementation then the prior
written permission of BSI must be obtained.

If permission is granted, the terms may include royalty payments or a licensing

agreement. Details and advice can be obtained from the Copyright Manager.
BSI Tel: 020 8996 7070.
389 Chiswick High Road
London
W4 4AL