Tuesday, October 26, 2021

Difference between pH paper and litmus paper

Solutions and chemicals are often categorized as basic, acidic, and neutral. These classifications are decided on the pH scale (pH 0 to 14). Acidic has a low pH value, basic has a high pH value, and neutral has around 7 pH. The measurement of pH is an important factor in every field. It is widely used in agriculture to maintain the quality of water, soil, and pesticides, as well as for medicinal, pharmaceuticals, research, production, and quality control since it affects most of the product and quality.

There are different types of methods are available to determine the pH value of the substance in which the electrometric and colorimetric methods are used. Some of the commonly used methods of pH determination are universal indicator, blue litmus paper, red litmus paper, and pH paper, etc.
Difference between pH paper and litmus paper

What is pH paper?

A pH paper is a piece of paper (indicator) that is used to determine the pH of a solution, which is come in the form of strips that have saturated with pH indicators. Thus whether acid or a base is present; pH paper can change its color according to the pH of the sample solution.

Generally, it is used by immersed in the solution, or a drop of the sample solution can be placed on the strip of pH to view the change of color. The color is compared to the reference scale (01-14) when a color change occurs. This method is used to find the pH of a solution.

What is litmus paper?

A litmus paper is a test strip that is used to determine whether a sample solution is acidic or basic. Litmus paper is devoid of impurities that can cause color change due to the pH of the solution. Lichen is the primary raw material used in the manufacture of litmus, and paper becomes pH activated after a lichen infusion.

Litmus paper comes in two types: red and blue. The color of red litmus turns to blue when a drop of basic solution is placed on it, and when a drop of a basic solution is added to blue litmus, its color does not change. The color of red litmus paper will not change if an acidic solution is dropped on it. On the other hand, a drop of acidic solution on blue litmus changes the color from blue to red. As compared with the pH paper, litmus paper is unable to provide an accurate pH value for a solution.

Difference between pH paper and litmus paper:

  • The major difference between the pH paper and litmus paper is that the litmus paper shows that the sample is acidic or basic or neutral, whereas the pH paper gives the exact value of pH.
  • The pH paper has a scale that ranges from 01 to 14 and is used to determine the acidity or alkalinity of a solution, whereas litmus paper gives and a rough idea of whether a sample solution is acidic or basic.
  • pH paper gives more accurate readings than litmus paper.
  • Depending on the pH of the solution, pH papers provide a range of different colors, whereas litmus paper only shows two colors, red or blue.
  • pH strips are thought to be more sensitive than litmus paper, as litmus paper cannot provide quantitative data.



FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions):


Which is more accurate pH paper or litmus paper?
pH paper gives more accurate results than litmus paper because pH paper can determine the pH range of the solution.

Why is universal pH paper better than litmus paper?
Because a universal pH paper may indicate a variety of colors based on the pH of the solution, hence it is useful for determining the acid or alkali strength.

Is pH paper litmus paper?
Litmus paper is a type of pH paper, both of which are used in different ways to determine whether a sample solution is acidic or basic.


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