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Lesson 3 – pH and Free Chlorine (5:37)

Watch the video to learn about the pH-dependence of a free chlorine measurement.

> Hypochlorous acid dissociates into the hypochlorite ion (OCl-) and a proton (H+), which is pH-dependent:

HOCl(aq)  ↔ OCl-(aq) + H+(aq)

> As pH increases, the amount of HOCl present decreases, and OCl- increases.

> Free chlorine is the sum of hypochlorous acid, hypochlorite ion, and molecular chlorine (Cl2):

Free chlorine = HOCl + OCl- + Cl2

> The Zirkon DIS sensor measures only HOCl, and a pH measurement is used to quantify OCl- concentration. Molecular chlorine is only present at pH < 4.

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