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Effects of Salts on Oxygen Diffusion Rate Measurements in Unsaturated Soils
Author(s) -
Rickman Ron W.
Publication year - 1968
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1968.03615995003200050015x
Subject(s) - divalent , platinum , chemistry , conductivity , electrode , inorganic chemistry , diffusion , electrical resistivity and conductivity , ion , salt (chemistry) , oxygen , analytical chemistry (journal) , current (fluid) , soil water , thermodynamics , environmental chemistry , catalysis , organic chemistry , soil science , engineering , physics , environmental science , electrical engineering
Current‐voltage curves determined with tips of platinum electrodes touching a solution surface were used to evaluate the effect of solution electrical conductivity and specific ions on measurements of oxygen diffusion rates in unsaturated soil. Current was found to be dependent upon electrical conductivity in pure monovalent cation solutions. In divalent cation solutions, or mixed monovalent‐divalent cation solutions, current was only slightly affected by electrical conductivity of the solution. The presence of divalent cations caused a lower measured current with identical solution‐electrode geometry and measured electrode potential than when only monovalent ions were in solution. Based upon the assumption that these determinations reflect at least the magnitude of such phenomena that occur in soils, conditions are described under which the platinum electrode should operate most satisfactorily or have a minimum interference from salt.