Stability of Standard Electrolytic Conductivity Solutions in Glass Containers

The stability of solutions having an electrolytic conductivity, κ, of 5 μS/cm to 100 000 μS/cm packaged in glass screw-cap bottles, glass serum bottles, and glass ampoules was monitored for 1 year to 2 years. The conductivity was determined by measuring the ac resistance of the solution. Mass loss was also monitored for solutions packaged in bottles. The solutions were prepared using KCl in water (κ ≥100 μS/cm) or KCl in 30 % (by mass) n-propanol 70 % (by mass) water (κ ≤ 15 μS/cm). The conductivity changes were compared by packaging type and by nominal κ. The main causes of the κ changes are evaporation (screw-cap bottles) and leaching (screw-cap bottles, serum bottles, and ampoules). Evaporation is determined from mass loss data; leaching occurs from the glass container with no change in mass. The choice of optimal packaging, which depends on the conductivity level, is the packaging in which κ changes the least with time. Ampoules are the most suitable packaging for standards having nominal κ values of 500 μS/cm to 100 000 μS/cm. Screw-cap bottles are most suitable for standards having a nominal κ of 5 μS/cm to 100 μS/cm.