Electrode Storage

Q In my lab I noticed that the conductivity electrodes are stored in pH7 buffer with all the pH electrodes. Can that be right?

Image showing a bottle of 500ml Standard Solution.

A Great question! No is the short answer.  Conductivity cells should be rinsed after use with deionised water and then stored dry.  You only increase the chance of contamination by doing anything else. 

NB Funnily enough your pH electrodes, unless they are half cells, should be stored in electrode storage solution. The reason is that the reference leaks out KCl so you should have KCL in the storage otherwise you get a gradient forming in the junction which may cause precipitation or excessive loss of the internal electrolyte. Electrode storage solution has the right balance for the reference and the glass bulb.