A glass electrode is primarily classified as an ion-selective electrode.
Understanding Glass Electrodes
Based on the reference provided, a glass electrode is fundamentally defined by its function and composition:
A glass electrode is a type of ion-selective electrode made of a doped glass membrane that is sensitive to a specific ion.
This means its core purpose is to selectively measure the activity or concentration of a particular ion in a solution. The unique characteristic is the doped glass membrane, which allows only certain ions (or primarily one specific ion) to interact with its surface, generating a potential difference that can be measured.
Key Characteristics
- Type: Ion-selective electrode (ISE)
- Construction: Features a doped glass membrane
- Function: Exhibits sensitivity to a specific ion
Common Application: pH Measurement
While glass electrodes can theoretically be designed for sensitivity to various ions, their most widespread and well-known application is in determining the pH of a solution.
The most common application of ion-selective glass electrodes is for the measurement of pH. The pH electrode is an example of a glass electrode that is sensitive to hydrogen ions.
- Specific Example: The pH electrode
- Ion Sensitivity: Sensitive specifically to hydrogen ions (H⁺), which are the basis of the pH scale.
In essence, a glass electrode is a specialized sensor within the broader category of ion-selective electrodes, leveraging a unique glass formulation to respond proportionally to the concentration of a target ion, most famously, hydrogen ions for pH measurements.
