Orp In Water Chemistry

Orp is integral to water testing because it indicates how sanitized or contaminated water is based on its oxidation and reduction properties.
Orp in water chemistry. We already know ph has an inverse correlation to strength of chlorine vis a vis hypochlorous. Most other types of water are oxidizing agents as their orp is positive. I want to begin with orp which stands for oxidation reduction potential. An orp sensor consists of an orp electrode and a reference electrode.
Oxidation reduction potential orp measures the ability of a lake or river to cleanse itself or break down waste products such as contaminants and dead plants and animals. The rate of electron transfer is measured in mv and read as orp. Oxidation reduction potential or orp is a measure of the oxidizing capacity in water or more simply put the cleanliness of the water and its ability to break down contaminants. Orp is measured in millivolts mv with no correction for solution temperature.
1 chemical reactions occurring in an aqueous solution are called redox reactions. For instance chlorinated water will show a positive orp value whereas sodium sulfite a reducing agent loses electrons and will show a negative orp value. When the orp value is high there is lots of oxygen present in the water. It is used to test both drinking water and swimming pool water to determine how effective oxidizers are in the water and therefore how safe the pool is to bathe in.
Orp is measured by a probe in a small sample of flowing water usually next to your chemical controller. In our experience however the strong oxidizing power of ozone in complex even moderate turbidity systems can result in orp values far below expected values and even negative reducing values. Like ph it is not a measurement of concentration directly but of activity level. One of the characteristics of water containing dissolved molecular hydrogen such as ionized water is that it exhibits a negative oxidation reduction potential o r p.
Oxidation reduction potential orp can be used for water system monitoring with the benefit of a single value measure of the disinfection potential showing the activity of the disinfectant rather than the applied dose. In a clean water system using orp to measure the status of dissolved ozone works well. Alkaline ionized water is an anti oxidizing agent as it has a negative orp value and it is able to donate extra electrons to neutralize the harmful effects of free radicals on the body. Basically a signal is sent between them which determines your oxidation and reduction potential.
Factors that affect orp. In order to be safe to consume recycle or come in contact with our skin water is treated with a sanitizing agent to have a higher oxidation potential producing a higher orp reading. The future of water chemistry orp. Orp is the objective measurement of.