Teaching pH Measurements with a Student-Assembled Combination Quinhydrone Electrode

A combination pH electrode that can be assembled by the student is described. It consists of a glass holder and two sensors in the form of rubber stoppers that contain quinhydrone and graphite. The combination electrode is suitable to teach potentiometric measurements, pH measurements, and the interplay of acid–base and redox equilibria. The electrode meets highest safety standards and overcomes the troubles associated with the use of the conventional quinhydrone electrode. Compared with commercial combination glass electrodes, the combination quinhydrone electrode has the didactic advantage that the sensor and the reference electrodes are both visible and not preassembled.