Q&A for How to Measure the pH of Water

Litmus paper only gives you a quick check to see if your solution is acidic, neutral or basic. So if your solution is acidic, you still don't know if the pH is 2 or 6. For better accuracy, I would use either a pH meter or pH paper (described above).

The most accurate method mentioned above would be the pH meter, assuming it has been correctly calibrated before use.

Sure, you can make your own test strips at home, and it’s not that hard to do. For help with making your own test strips, check out the wikiHow: How to Make Homemade pH Paper Test Strips .

For a detailed step-by-step approach to calibrating your pH meter before using it, check out the wikiHow: How to Calibrate and Use a pH Meter .

For help with reading the pH test strips, check out the wikiHow: How to Read pH Strips . This will help you to understand the color coding and how to interpret the pH levels of whatever you’re measuring.

For help with calculating pH, check out the wikiHow: How to Calculate pH .

Depending on what you’re measuring (soil, water, urine, etc.), you can use a pH meter, litmus paper, a commercial pH test probe, commercial kits, etc. For help with testing water, see the steps above (or see How to Test pH in a Fish Tank if you’re testing aquarium water), and for help with check the pH of soil at home, check out the wikiHow: How to Test Soil pH .

The answer depends on what you’re measuring. If you’re measuring the pH in water, see the steps detailed above for using either a pH meter or litmus papers. If you’re testing pH in soil, see How to Test Soil pH . The usual items for testing pH include: A pH meter, litmus or paper test strips, commercial pH test probe, etc.

To test pH in water, you can use a pH meter or litmus papers. Both methods are detailed in the steps above.

You can measure the pH of DI (deionized water). You’ll need to use a resistivity meter because DI water has little conductivity in it as it’s very pure water. The readings will vary depending on whether you measure the water exposed to air or not exposed to air (such as inside a pipe).

Use the sheet given with the pH paper to identify the color of the paper and it's corresponding pH level.

Some living organisms, such as fish, require a specific level of acidity. If the pH levels are too low or too high for that organism, it may get sick or die.

Leave it until the numbers stop moving.

You can purchase pH kits in stores that sell fish supplies that include chemicals for raising or lowering the pH.

The issue that many health professionals have with alkaline water is not its safety, but rather the health claims that are made about it.

pH is really a measure of the relative amount of free hydrogen and hydroxyl ions in the water. Water that has more free hydrogen ions is acidic, whereas water that has more free hydroxyl ions is basic. Since pH can be affected by chemicals in the water, pH is an important indicator of water that is changing chemically.

Most instruments require calibration over time to get accurate results.

Room temperature. The temperature should not usually affect the pH of a liquid, but room temperature is ideal.

The best way to determine the pH value is by using a pH meter. It's easy to use and gives an accurate measurement.

You have to dip the paper in the water before the color will appear. Dry paper will not have any color on it.

2-10 is roughly the range of "safe to consume", with lemon juice and carbonated drinks on the low end, and matcha tea and baking soda at the high end. Note that while you won't really get sick from eating them, foods at the extreme ends of this spectrum are often not particularly tasty in large quantities, and can have some side-effects if you don't consume in moderation. For example, carbonated sodas cause dental decay because of their acidity.