What is the purpose of ion-selective electrodes?

Ion-selective electrodes are designed specifically to selectively measure the concentration of specific ions in a solution. They achieve this through a membrane that is sensitive to certain ions while being impermeable to others, allowing for the precise detection of the targeted ion's activity. This selectivity is crucial in various applications, such as environmental monitoring, clinical diagnostics, and quality control processes in chemical production.

For example, a sodium ion-selective electrode would respond primarily to sodium ions in the solution, providing a measurement of their concentration without interference from other ions present. This capability makes ion-selective electrodes invaluable tools in analytical chemistry, where understanding the concentration of specific ions can provide insights into a chemical system's behavior and the solution's overall properties.