How Do You Test Paper For Acidity?

March 28, 2016

There are markers that do test paper acidity like Lineco which I have, there's Hydrion P-12M which I wanted to try as well but when I looked on comment of someone who used the person wrote that he still prefers test strips, however that pen would be good to test PH of your skin.

Not sure why would I need to test PH of skin but if person was buying pen to test paper why would he mention stips are better? I thought PH test strips are for testing liquids, water, urine, saliva etc.?

Has anyone also used Lineco and Hydrion too and can report how accurate those are? Can also recommend somthing better if there is as I want to buy Hydrion to compare results with Linceco.

Thanks

March 29, 2016

Hi TechnicGeek,

This is a good question. I am by no means an expert in paper acidity testing; but please allow me to pass on some thoughts...

Here I will assume that you want to test the acidity of a sample of paper that can be destroyed versus say, a page from a rare book.

I have heard those pricey pH test "pens" you refer to are one-use only if they are to be trusted. This is perhaps because the the test solution inside the pen becomes contaminated after use. But this is only something I've heard about; I have not tried using one of those pH pens.

Perhaps the best approach is differential testing. If you have a piece of quality "acid-free" paper (or other standard) that has been properly stored, use it as a reference when testing an unknown sample. While the absolute pH result of each test may not be trusted on its own, the difference between the two should tell you something. Keep in-mind any of the typical pH test strip/solution kits and/or test pen results are specified to be only within a whole-digit pH value - at best.

Differential pH testing of paper might be done with test strips by soaking samples of the papers to be tested in separate matched volumes of water for a fixed time, then wicking the solutions with pH test strips. An additive indicator-solution pH test kit may be used in the same way. The differential test approach using test strips or an additive indicator kit may be preferable over the pH test pens due to cost and/or resolution.

In the 1st World, pH test kits for aqueous solutions are readily available at your local hardware store (for swimming pool water testing) and/or pet shop (for fish-tank water testing).

Remember, to obtain meaningful results do not use distilled or de-ionized water as a medium when testing pH.

You might want to search the Web on the subjects of (e.g.) "Library Preservation" and "Book Restoration". I suspect the subject of paper acidity testing has been fully addressed in these fields.

Let us know what you discover about this this interesting subject.

Shalom, David

Edited March 29, 2016 by Drone

March 29, 2016

I am not sure how exacting the results you want/need ,

anyway,

I use a pH test marker like this one I have from years ago.

( amazingly, it still works fine today, )

( I bought it from a scrapbooking hobby craft store )

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/28367-homemade-journal/?view=findpost&p=1001237

Yes it works - poor quality paper does show a noticeably different result from better (less acidic) paper.

When the marked scribbles remain purple , it means the paper is less acidic.

When it turns yellow or fades, the paper is very acidic.

Hope this helps

April 5, 2016

Here I will assume that you want to test the acidity of a sample of paper that can be destroyed versus say, a page from a rare book.
I have heard those pricey pH test "pens" you refer to are one-use only if they are to be trusted. This is perhaps because the the test solution inside the pen becomes contaminated after use. But this is only something I've heard about; I have not tried using one of those pH pens.

David, actually the pages are for scrapbook and acid-free pages can now be in contact with photos that you want to preserve or other items.

This is what happened after Lineco pen was used. The tip became half purple and purple color is an indicator of low acidity when you use it on paper. Do you think tip became contaminated?

I am not sure how exacting the results you want/need ,

anyway,
I use a pH test marker like this one I have from years ago.
( amazingly, it still works fine today, )
( I bought it from a scrapbooking hobby craft store )

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/28367-homemade-journal/?view=findpost&p=1001237

Yes it works - poor quality paper does show a noticeably different result from better (less acidic) paper.
When the marked scribbles remain purple , it means the paper is less acidic.
When it turns yellow or fades, the paper is very acidic.

Hope this helps