Recently proved alkaline water is good for healthy people due to its antioxidant properties. However, research on its benefits to kidney patients and pregnant women is controversial, so that no conclusion can be drawn. Besides, how much the water is alkaline is crucial to examine. We’ve got covered on how to test alkaline water.
Various ways are used to check the water pH, including acidic and alkaline. You can try using anthocyanin-containing fruits, litmus paper, pH drops, and strips. However, pH testing by using a digital meter is the most accurate, quicker, and easier way. You can choose the option upon your wish.
In this blog, we’ll be guiding various ways to test pH water without a kit and by using a kit. Stay tuned!
How to Test Alkaline Water
Ensuring the water quality is the most crucial step toward safe drinking, and pH is one the more significant factors to consider. Check the alkaline water in various ways, which are as follows:
1. Check Alkaline Water By USing Red Cabbage
Red cabbage pH testing is one of the easy, simple, and cost-effective procedures that don’t need any kit to perform at home. It has natural pigments called anthocyanins, which exhibit a wide range of colors depending on the pH of the solution they are in. Not only this, plums, blueberries, rose petals, and red onions can also be used in the same ways as red cabbage.
Firstly, You may need to cut the cabbage into small pieces and place them in a bowl. Secondly, boil some distilled water, add it to the cabbage-containing bowl, dip it completely, and mix thoroughly. Now, allow water and cabbage cubes to contact for a while to react with each other chemically.
Later, you will notice the pigment from the cabbage will change the color of the water. Now strain the water, which is ready to use as an indicator for alkaline or acidic water. Further, take a water sample and add a few drops of cabbage indicator solution to the sample. Notice if you see any color changes depending on the acidic and alkaline water.
If your water has a high mineral content or more than 7 pH, the color will turn blue, green, or yellow, indicating how alkaline it is. Similarly, pink or red water is an indication of acidic water. No color change indicates neutral water.
2. Check Alkaline Water Using Litmus Paper
Litmus paper is another popular and straightforward way to check whether your water is acidic or alkaline. You people have read about them in chemistry, where they are used as It is a wide indicator, available in both red and blue forms.
Red Litmus Paper: it typically turns red in acidic solutions (pH below 7). So, if you dip red litmus paper into a water sample and it turns blue, it suggests that the substance is alkaline or neutral.
Blue Litmus Paper: it is red at a neutral pH and turns red in acidic solutions. If you dip blue litmus paper into the water sample, it remains blue, which means your water is alkaline in nature.
Litmus paper are readily available in most scientific supply stores and online retailers such as Amazon. It’s an affordable option for alkaline pH testing, which provides a quick indication of whether a substance is acidic, alkaline, or neutral.
However, there are various limitations. It only provides information about yes or no. It doesn’t offer an exact pH value like a digital pH meter and others. Additionally, It is less accurate than other pH testing methods, especially for substances with pH values close to 7.
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3. Check Alkaline Water Using pH Test Drops
pH test drops are another simple method used for checking the pH of drinking water. They work by using a chemical indicator solution that changes color depending on the acidity or alkalinity of the water.
You need to collect the water sample in a clean container and add a few drops of the solution by using a dropper provided with the drop solution. Now, note the color change and compare it with the color chart provided with the test drops to help you interpret the results.
For alkaline water, you would typically look for a color that falls within the alkaline range (usually a pH level greater than 7).
pH test drops are generally affordable and can be purchased from online stores and shops for a few dollars to $20. You can use them occasionally to check the pH of drinking water, aquariums, swimming pools, or other applications.
One of their advantages is no requirement for any calibration or special equipment. They are convenient for quick pH checks at home. However, For highly precise measurements, especially in scientific or industrial settings, a digital pH meter is often preferred.
4. Check Alkaline Water Using pH Test Strips
It is made of a special paper infused with a mixture of natural indicators derived from lichens or other plant sources.
To test alkaline water, you simply dip the pH strip into the water for a few seconds. The strip absorbs the water, allowing the natural indicators to react and change the color based on pH. After this, you can compare the color of the strip to a manufacturer’s color chart.
You can also make your DIY PH strips at home by using coffee filters or acid-free art papers as your testing strips. Homemade indicators such as red cabbage and red anion, which are mentioned above, can be used. You need to take the solution indicator, dip it for a while, and let it dry. Now, keep it for later use.
Generally, pH strips are relatively inexpensive and are available in a wide price range to accommodate different budgets. You can find them online or at local stores specializing in scientific or laboratory supplies. However, this is not a good option if you want highly precise measurements.
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5. Check Alkaline Water Using a Digital pH Meter—the Most Accurate Method
Digital pH meters are instruments used to measure the pH with accuracy. They work based on the principle of measuring the concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) in the solution. To check alkaline water using a digital pH meter, submerge the glass electrode into the water. It will display the water pH value on its screen, indicating the acidic, neutral, or alkaline.
It is an ideal choice if you have a private well and want to ensure a balanced pH. It is crucial to maintain it even to operating a treatment system such as whole house filters.
We suggest using the accurate method, a digital pH meter that can exactly measure the alkalinity and acidity of your drinking water. It is more costly but is more effortless and quicker than typical methods. Further, it is better than making your pH test strips or buying test strips.
Conclusion
Most US people face pH issues in their drinking water; either too low or too high noth can harm their health. The acidic water can be fixed using alkaline water filters, and high alkalinity can be fixed by using ion exchange or reverse osmosis.
Before treatment, the more important thing is to check the water’s quality and check the pH and if other contaminants are present, too. All the DIY and Kit methods assist you, but if a highly accurate measurement is your concern, try using a pH meter to test your alkaline water.
