1. What is pH and pOH?

pH and pOH are logarithmic measures of the acidity and basicity of aqueous solutions. pH represents the negative logarithm of hydrogen ion concentration, while pOH represents the negative logarithm of hydroxide ion concentration.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the following formulas:

Where:

• \( [H^+] \) — Hydrogen ion concentration (mol/L)
• \( [OH^-] \) — Hydroxide ion concentration (mol/L)
• \( pH \) — Acidity measure (dimensionless)
• \( pOH \) — Basicity measure (dimensionless)

Explanation: The logarithmic scale allows for convenient representation of the wide range of hydrogen and hydroxide ion concentrations found in aqueous solutions.

3. Importance of pH and pOH Calculation

Details: Accurate pH and pOH calculations are essential for understanding chemical reactions, biological processes, environmental monitoring, and industrial applications where acidity or basicity plays a crucial role.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter hydrogen ion concentration and hydroxide ion concentration in mol/L. Both values must be positive numbers greater than zero.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the relationship between pH and pOH?
A: In aqueous solutions at 25°C, pH + pOH = 14 due to the water ion product constant Kw = [H⁺][OH⁻] = 1.0 × 10⁻¹⁴.

Q2: What are typical pH values for common substances?
A: Pure water has pH 7, lemon juice around 2, baking soda solution around 8.5, and bleach around 12-13.

Q3: Why use logarithmic scales for pH and pOH?
A: Logarithmic scales compress the wide range of hydrogen ion concentrations (from 1 to 10⁻¹⁴ mol/L) into a more manageable scale of 0-14.

Q4: Are pH and pOH temperature dependent?
A: Yes, the pH and pOH values change with temperature because the water ion product constant Kw changes with temperature.

Q5: Can pH be negative or greater than 14?
A: Yes, for very concentrated strong acids, pH can be negative, and for very concentrated strong bases, pH can exceed 14.