4. Bring the water in the 150-ml beaker to a boil by any convenient method.

5. Remove the source of heat and immediately pour the starch paste into the boiling water while stirring the solution.

6. Put a crystal of thymol into the starch solution and stir. After the solution has cooled, pour off any scum on the surface and transfer 30 ml to the indicator-dropping bottle.

7. The starch solution loses its sensitivity as an indicator after a time. Addition of the thymol preserves it for about 2 weeks. The starch should be dated when prepared.

In making the sodium sulfite test, proceed as follows:

1. Transfer 1 ml of hydrochloric acid 3N to a clean, marked test tube by measuring out 0.5-ml portions with the dropper of the acid-dropping bottle.

2. From the starch-dropping bottle, transfer 0.5 ml of starch to the marked test tube.

3. Without disturbing any settled sludge in the sample, pour enough of the sample into the marked test tube to bring the level up to the first mark (25-ml). Stir the mixture in the tube with the plunger end of the stirring rod.

4. To add the standard potassium iodate-iodide reagent to the mixture in the marked test tube, have the marked test tube supported and the stirring rod placed in the tube, so the reagent can be added with one hand while the mixture is stirred with the other. Fill the 8-inch dropper with standard potassium iodate-iodide reagent from the stock bottle by sucking it up with the rubber bulb. (The dropper must be kept clean and reserved for this test only.)

5. Add the reagent to the mixture in the marked test tube, one drop at a time, counting the number of drops and stirring after each is added until a permanent blue color, which is not removed by stirring, is obtained. The standard iodate-iodide reagent reacts with sodium sulfite in the mixture, and the formation of the permanent blue color from the action of excess reagent with the starch shows that the iodate-iodide reagent has consumed all the sodium sulfite in the mixture.

6. Each drop of iodate-iodide reagent used (except the last one) indicates 5 ppm of sodium sulfite in the boiler water sample. To figure the concentration of sodium sulfite in the boiler water, multiply the total number of drops of the standard iodate-iodide reagent used, less one, by 5. For example, when 5 drops were used, subtract 1 from 5 = 4, 5 x 4 = 20 ppm.

7. Record the results of the test as ppm.

Test for pH

The value of pH indicates the degree of acidity or alkalinity of a sample. A pH of 7.0 represents the neutral point; the lesser values denote acidity; the greater values denote alkalinity. The test is made as soon as possible after you take the sample. Avoid exposure to the air as much as possible to reduce absorption of CO₂ .

The following equipment is used in making the pH test of boiler water:

Two vials of indicator paper, hydrions pH 10 to 20

Two vials of indicator paper, hydrions C pH 11 to 12

One 50-ml beaker

One 2-oz bottle

In conducting the test for pH of boiler water, remove a strip of pH 10 to 12 indicator paper from the vial and dip it into the sample in the beaker. Keep the paper immersed for 30 seconds; then remove it. When the sample does not change the color of the paper or colors it yellow or light orange, the pH of the sample is too low and the test is finished. When the paper turns orange or red, the pH is either satisfactory or too high.

In that case, remove a strip of paper of pH 11 to 12 from the vial and dip it into the sample in the beaker. Keep the paper immersed for 30 seconds; then remove it. When the sample does not change the color of the paper or colors it a light blue, the pH is satisfactory. When the paper turns deep blue, the pH is higher than necessary. Blow down or reduce the dosage of caustic soda (NaOH).

Test for pH of Treated Condensate

In making a test for pH of treated condensate, take the sample from a point in the return piping near which condensation takes place, such as after a trap, or preferably where the return-line corrosion is known to occur. The sample must represent water flowing in the return lines. Water taken from the return tank, especially of large installations, generally shows a higher pH. A sample should not be taken from a