Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Potentiometric Titration Of Sulfate Using A Lead-Mercury Amalgam Indicator Electrode, Charles W. Robbins

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A lead sensitive indicator electrode was constructed with a 70 percent lead and 30 percent mercury amalgam billet. Sulfate concentrations in pure solutions, natural waters, and soil saturation extracts were determined potentiometrically using the lead-mercury amalgam indicator electrode and a standard calomel reference electrode. Sulfate concentrations over the range 0.4 to 20 milliequivalents sulfate per liter were determined with an automatic titrator and compared to a turbidimetric method for accuracy and precision. The values obtained by the two methods from twelve saturation extracts and three subsurface drainage waters were not significantly different and the potentiometric method was generally more precise. …