“I purchased the 3-pad pH test strips, and I’m not quite sure how to read the results. Why are there different colors for each pad? I don’t know what each color means. Could you please educate me a bit more on these test strips?”

Laura

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Hi Laura,

Thank you for purchasing our pH test strips. We sell a few different 3-pad pH test strips, and they all work in the same way.  Let’s use the pH 4.5-10 test strip as an example.

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Three test pads are used to provide a better way to zero in on the sample pH value. All three pads have pH indicators impregnated into the test pad. Pad Number 1 is the pad located closest to the end of the test strip. Pad 2 is the middle pad. Pad 3 is the pad closest to your thumb as you hold the strip.

3-pad pH test strips

When you dip the strip into the sample, all three pads should be wet and all three will react (they may turn color) depending on the pH of the test solution. To find the pH of the solution, find the best match of all three pads. For example, a test result of Pad 1 – orange, Pad 2 – purple, and Pad 3 – green would indicate a pH of 7.5 for the test solution.

Why three pads?  Because any one pad doesn’t give the specific result required. For example, if the strip had only Pad 1, any result that is yellow could be from a pH of 4.5 to 6.5. This is not very specific or helpful. However, by using all three pads it is possible to differentiate between 4.5 and 6.5 by using the other two pads.

Likewise, a strip with only Pad 2 that yielded a purple color could be for any pH between 7.0 and 10.0. The other two pads help determine the true result.

It is the combination of all three pads that should be used to determine the pH of the test solution. To see a demonstration on how to use the 3-pad pH test strips, check out this video.