Since the electrical conductivity is a measure to the capacity of water to conduct electrical current, it is directly related to the concentration of salts dissolved in water, and therefore to the Total Dissolved Solids (TDS). Salts dissolve into positively charged ions and negatively charged ions, which conduct electricity.
Since it is difficult to measure TDS in the field, the electrical conductivity of the water is used as a measure.
The electrical conductivity of the water can be determined in a quick and inexpensive way, using portable meters.
Distilled water does not contain dissolved salts and, as a result, it does not conduct electricity and has an electrical conductivity of zero.
Nevertheless, when the salt concentration reaches a certain level, electrical conductivity is no longer directly related to salts concentration. This is because ion pairs are formed. Ion pairs weaken each others charge, so that above this level, higher TDS will not result in equally higher electrical conductivity.
Post a Comment