Litmus test (politics) Litmus test (politics) A litmus test is a question asked of a potential candidate for high office, the answer to which would determine whether the nominating official would proceed with the appointment or nomination. The expression is a metaphor based on the litmus test in chemistry, in which one is able to test the general acidity of a substance, but not its exact pH. Those who must approve a nominee, such as a justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, may also be said to apply a litmus test to determine whether the nominee will receive their vote.
Alkalinity given in the unit mEq/L (milliequivalent per liter). Commercially, as in the swimming pool industry, alkalinity might also be given in parts per million of equivalent calcium carbonate (ppm CaCO). Alkalinity is sometimes incorrectly used interchangeably with basicity. For example, the addition of CO lowers the pH of a solution. This increase reduces the basicity; however, the alkalinity remains unchanged (see example below).For total alkalinity testing, N/10 HSO is used by hydrologists along with phenolphthalein indicator. In typical groundwater or seawater, the measured alkalinity is set equal to: Alkalinity can be measured by titrating a sample with a strong acid