1. What is pH Calculation?

pH calculation determines the acidity or basicity of a solution. For strong acids, pH is calculated directly from the concentration using the formula pH = -log(C), where C is the molar concentration of the acid.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the pH formula for strong acids:

Where:

• \( C \) — Acid concentration (mol/L)
• \( \log \) — Base-10 logarithm

Explanation: The pH scale is logarithmic, meaning each whole pH value below 7 is ten times more acidic than the next higher value.

3. Importance of pH Calculation

Details: pH calculation is essential in chemistry, biology, environmental science, and many industrial processes. It helps determine the acidity of solutions, which affects chemical reactions, biological functions, and material stability.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the acid concentration in mol/L. The value must be greater than 0. For 0.1 M strong acid, the calculated pH will be 1.0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why use -log(C) for pH calculation?
A: The pH scale is defined as the negative logarithm of hydrogen ion concentration, making it convenient to express very small concentrations.

Q2: What are typical pH values?
A: pH ranges from 0 (very acidic) to 14 (very basic), with 7 being neutral. Strong acids typically have pH values below 3.

Q3: Does this work for weak acids?
A: No, weak acids require different calculations that account for partial dissociation using acid dissociation constants (Ka).

Q4: What about temperature effects?
A: While the pH calculation itself doesn't include temperature, the actual pH of solutions can vary with temperature due to changes in water dissociation.

Q5: How accurate is this calculation?
A: For ideal strong acid solutions, this calculation is theoretically exact. Real-world measurements may show slight variations due to activity coefficients and other factors.