another pH-meter qustion

[RalphLambrecht]

I assumed that a .5%borax solution would measure at 9.2pH,but,with my cheap pHmeter it measures around 8.7pH.is y meter off or was my assumption wrong?

 

[Alan Johnson]

http://www.borax.com/docs/product_pdfs_data/pds-borates-boraxdecahydrate-us.pdf
pH of 0.5% Borax is 9.23
Usually there is a little adjusting screw on the meter to set it to this.
Leave it for a few minutes to be sure it has settled down.
Use of a second buffer solution of different pH will confirm if it is reading correctly.