What is added to a liquid to help standardize the pH measurement process?

A buffer solution is used to help standardize the pH measurement process because it can resist changes in pH when small amounts of acids or bases are added. Buffer solutions are typically composed of a weak acid and its conjugate base or a weak base and its conjugate acid. This characteristic allows them to maintain a relatively constant pH level, providing a stable reference point for accurate pH measurements.

In laboratory and treatment plant settings, using a buffer can ensure that the pH measurements reflect the true acidity or alkalinity of the liquid being tested, thereby improving repeatability and reliability in various processes. A standardized measurement is crucial for operations tasks such as chemical dosing, biological treatment processes, and compliance monitoring.

Other substances, such as acids or carbonate ions, may alter the pH rather than stabilize it, making them unsuitable for standardizing pH measurements. Oxygen does not directly influence pH but is related to the biological processes that consume or produce acids and bases.