What is ORP?
ORP, or Oxidation-Reduction Potential, (also known as Redox) is a measurement of the voltage at an inert electrode, reflecting the extent of oxidation of the water sample. The more positive the ORP of a solution, the more oxidized are the chemical components of the water (less positive indicates less oxidized, or more reduced).
ORP is “Oxygen Reduction Potential”. Potential energy is energy that is stored and ready to be put to work. It’s not actually working, but we know that the energy is there and we can measure it. Another word for potential might be pressure. Blow up a balloon, and there is air pressure inside. As long as we keep the end tightly closed, the pressure remains as potential energy (when released it becomes kinetic energy). In electrical terms, potential energy can be measured. When we use the term “potential” in describing ORP, we are actually talking about electrical potential or the stored electrical tendency as expressed in voltage. In the case of ORP, this energy is measured in millivolts with an ORP meter. We are reading the very slight voltage in water which is actually measuring the presence of oxidizing and reducing agents, thus Oxidation Reduction “Potential”. High pH water has more “reducing” agents (-ORP) and low pH water has more oxidizing agents (+ORP). Normal tap water in the U
ORP is “Oxygen Reduction Potential”. Potential energy is energy that is stored and ready to be put to work. It’s not actually working, but we know that the energy is there and we can measure it. Another word for potential might be pressure. Blow up a balloon, and there is air pressure inside. As long as we keep the end tightly closed, the pressure remains as potential energy (when released it becomes kinetic energy). In electrical terms, potential energy can be measured. When we use the term “potential” in describing ORP, we are actually talking about electrical potential or the stored electrical tendency as expressed in voltage. In the case of ORP, this energy is measured in millivolts with an ORP meter. We are reading the very slight voltage in water which is actually measuring the presence of oxidizing and reducing agents, thus Oxidation Reduction “Potential”. High pH water has more “reducing” agents (-ORP) and low pH water has more oxidizing agents (+ORP). Normal tap water in the U
Oxidation Reduction Potential or Redox is the activity or strength of oxidizers and reducers in relation to their concentration. Oxidizers accept electrons, reducers lose electrons. Examples of oxidizers are: chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, bromine, ozone, and chlorine dioxide. Examples of reducers are sodium sulfite, sodium bisulfate and hydrogen sulfide. Like acidity and alkalinity, the increase of one is at the expense of the other. A single voltage is called the Oxidation-Reduction Potential, where a positive voltage shows a solution attracting electrons (oxidizing agent). 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. ORP is measured in millivolts (mV), with no correction for solution temperature. Like pH, it is not a measurement of concentration directly, but of activity level. In a solution of only one active component, ORP indicates concentration. As with pH, a very dilute
