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pH Formula:
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pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. It is defined as the negative logarithm (base 10) of the hydrogen ion concentration. The pH scale typically ranges from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral.
The calculator uses the pH formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates pH by taking the negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration. Lower pH values indicate higher acidity, while higher pH values indicate higher basicity.
Details: pH measurement is crucial in various fields including chemistry, biology, environmental science, medicine, and industrial processes. It helps determine the chemical properties of solutions and is essential for many biological and chemical reactions.
Tips: Enter hydrogen ion concentration in mol/L. The value must be greater than 0. The calculator will compute the corresponding pH value.
Q1: What is the relationship between pH and [H⁺]?
A: pH and hydrogen ion concentration have an inverse logarithmic relationship. As [H⁺] increases, pH decreases, indicating higher acidity.
Q2: What are typical pH values for common substances?
A: Pure water has pH 7 (neutral), lemon juice around 2-3 (acidic), baking soda solution around 8-9 (basic), and bleach around 12-13 (highly basic).
Q3: Why is pH measured on a logarithmic scale?
A: The logarithmic scale allows representation of the wide range of hydrogen ion concentrations found in nature (from about 10⁰ to 10⁻¹⁴ mol/L) in a convenient 0-14 scale.
Q4: Can pH be negative or greater than 14?
A: Yes, for extremely concentrated acids pH can be negative, and for extremely concentrated bases pH can exceed 14, though these are rare in typical applications.
Q5: How accurate is this pH calculation?
A: This calculation provides the theoretical pH based on hydrogen ion concentration. In practice, actual pH measurements may be affected by temperature, other ions present, and measurement techniques.