Standard Practice for Replacing Saturated Calomel Reference Electrode (SCE) for Measuring Electrode Potentials

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 Electrode potential measurement is an essential step in many electrochemical corrosion test methods and practices.  
5.2 The SCE has been widely specified for laboratory tests because it is reliable, accurate, simple to use, and it has been readily available. However, because this device contains mercury, and mercury has recently been banned by some governmental agencies, it may not be available in locations where mercury is banned. As a result, test methods using the SCE may not be possible in locations where mercury is banned. Therefore, it is necessary to establish an alternative reference electrode for these standards.  
5.3 The KCl saturated, silver/silver chloride reference electrode, Ag/AgCl (sat KCl), is a satisfactory replacement for the SCE in laboratory test methods and practices. This reference electrode should provide comparable performance and accuracy to the SCE.  
5.4 It will be necessary to carry out interlaboratory test programs for each test method where the Ag/AgCl (sat KCl) electrode is specified to replace the SCE, in order to develop the precision of the method using the new reference electrode.
Note 1: In cases where a test method specifies that either the SCE or the Ag/AgCl (sat KCl) reference electrode may be used, and the ILS program used to develop the precision of the method included significant numbers of participants using each of these reference electrodes, no additional testing is required.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice provides the steps necessary to prepare revisions to standards that specify the saturated calomel reference electrode (SCE) for measuring or controlling electrode potentials.  
1.2 The SCE contains mercury and, as a result, it may not be available in locations where mercury has been banned. This practice covers the selection and use of an alternative reference electrode.  
1.3 In test methods where the SCE is specified, it will be necessary to develop a new precision statement using the alternative reference electrode.  
1.4 This practice will not apply to electrometric pH determinations where the SCE has been used. (Electrometric pH measurement is an analytical method that is covered elsewhere.)  
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.6 Warning—Mercury has been designated by many regulatory agencies as a hazardous substance that can cause serious medical issues. Mercury, or its vapor, has been demonstrated to be hazardous to health and corrosive to materials. Use caution when handling mercury and mercury-containing products. See the applicable product Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for additional information. The potential exists that selling mercury or mercury-containing products, or both, is prohibited by local or national law. Users must determine legality of sales in their location.  
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.8 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

Status
Published
Publication Date
31-Oct-2020
Current Stage
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ASTM G220-20 - Standard Practice for Replacing Saturated Calomel Reference Electrode (SCE) for Measuring Electrode Potentials
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This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: G220 − 20
Standard Practice for
Replacing Saturated Calomel Reference Electrode (SCE) for
1
Measuring Electrode Potentials
This standard is issued under the fixed designation G220; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 1.8 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
1.1 This practice provides the steps necessary to prepare
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
revisions to standards that specify the saturated calomel
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
reference electrode (SCE) for measuring or controlling elec-
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
trode potentials.
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
1.2 TheSCEcontainsmercuryand,asaresult,itmaynotbe
available in locations where mercury has been banned. This
2. Referenced Documents
practicecoverstheselectionanduseofanalternativereference
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
electrode.
E691Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
1.3 In test methods where the SCE is specified, it will be
Determine the Precision of a Test Method
necessary to develop a new precision statement using the
G3Practice for Conventions Applicable to Electrochemical
alternative reference electrode.
Measurements in Corrosion Testing
G215Guide for Electrode Potential Measurement
1.4 This practice will not apply to electrometric pH deter-
2
minations where the SCE has been used. (Electrometric pH 2.2 NACE/ASTM Standard:
measurement is an analytical method that is covered else- G193Terminology and Acronyms Relating to Corrosion
where.)
3. Terminology
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
practice, see NACE/ASTM Terminology G193.
standard.
1.6 Warning—Mercury has been designated by many regu-
4. Summary of Practice
latory agencies as a hazardous substance that can cause
4.1 IntestmethodsandpracticeswheretheSCEisspecified
serious medical issues. Mercury, or its vapor, has been
for electrode potential measurement or control, the KCl satu-
demonstrated to be hazardous to health and corrosive to
rated silver/silver-chloride reference electrode, Ag/AgCl (sat
materials. Use caution when handling mercury and mercury-
KCl), shall be used as an acceptable alternative.
containing products. See the applicable product Safety Data
Sheet (SDS) for additional information. The potential exists
4.2 If the Ag/AgCl (sat KCl) reference electrode is used in
that selling mercury or mercury-containing products, or both,
atestmethod,allpreviouselectrodepotentialvaluesreferredto
is prohibited by local or national law. Users must determine
the SCE can be converted to the Ag/AgCl (sat KCl) scale by
legality of sales in their location.
adding 0.045 V to the SCE values.
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the
4.3 New precision statements are required for test methods
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
where the alternative reference electrode, Ag/AgCl (sat KCl),
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
is now specified.The interlaboratory test program and analysis
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
of results will be required within 5 years of completing the
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
standard incorporating the new Ag/AgCl (sat KCl) reference
electrode requirement.
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee G01 on Corrosion
2
ofMetalsandisthedirectresponsibilityofSubcommitteeG01.11onElectrochemi- For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
cal Measurements in Corrosion Testing. contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2020. Published December 2020. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/G0220-20. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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G220 − 20
5. Significance and Use 6.4 Theissueofpolarizationofthereferenceelectrodefrom
the measuring instrument is seldom a concern with modern
5.1 Electrode potential measurement is an essential step in
...

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