The response of a sodium electrode to a 10-fold increase in sodium concentration is expected to be?

The response of a sodium electrode to a 10-fold increase in sodium concentration is governed by the Nernst equation, which describes how the potential of an electrochemical cell relates to the concentration of ions participating in the reaction. For a monovalent ion like sodium (Na+), the change in potential is approximately 60 mV for every tenfold change in concentration at room temperature.

When the concentration of sodium ions increases tenfold, the sodium electrode responds by showing an increase in potential of about 60 mV. This is due to the logarithmic nature of the Nernst equation, which states that the potential is proportional to the logarithm of the concentration ratio. In this case, greater sodium concentration leads to a higher potential reading, reflecting this dynamic.

This understanding is crucial for interpreting responses of ion-selective electrodes in analytical chemistry, allowing for accurate measurements of ion concentrations in various solutions.