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Determination of Sodium in Saline Solutions With a Glass Electrode¹

ABSTRACT

An experimental sodium alumino-silicate glass electrode supplied by Beckman Instruments, Inc., was studied to determine its sensitivity to the cations commonly found in irrigation waters and in water extracts of soils. The electrode was found to be insensitive to Ca⁺⁺ and Mg⁺⁺ but sensitive to Na⁺, K⁺ and H⁺, giving theoretical relations between EMF's and cationic activities for the latter.

A procedure for determining Na in waters and saturation extracts with the electrode is described. It involves dilution of the sample so that the total cation concentration does not exceed about 10 me. per liter, adjustment of the pH value to approximately 7, and precipitation of K as K tetraphenylboron. The Na concentrations of irrigation waters and saturation extracts of soils as determined by the electrode and by flame photometry agree closely.

¹ Contribution from the U.S. Salinity Laboratory, Soil and Water Conservation Research Division, ARS, USDA, Riverside, California, in cooperation with the 17 Western States and the Territory of Hawaii.

² Principal Soil Scientist.

Received for publication June 6, 1958. Accepted for publication July 10, 1958.