Electrical Conductivity Measurement Systems

Electrical conductivity is a material's capacity to conduct an electric current. It can also be an indication of a sample's composition, structure or mechanical properties like solidity or strength. In a solution, salts or other chemicals break down into charged ions, which conduct electricity. Therefore, when the electrical conductivity of a solution is tested, it can reveal the concentration of ions. Additionally, the conductivity of water is an indication of its purity. The purer the water the less the conductivity, meaning distilled water is essentially an insulator, while saltwater is an efficient conductor of electricity. Most measurement systems gauge conductivity by measuring the current that flows between two electrodes within a probe that have been placed into a sample.