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pH Formula:
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pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity of a solution. It is defined as the negative logarithm (base 10) of the hydrogen ion concentration [H⁺]. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14, with lower values indicating acidity, higher values indicating basicity, and 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. As [H⁺] increases, pH decreases, indicating higher acidity.
Details: pH measurement is crucial in various fields including chemistry, biology, medicine, environmental science, and industry. It helps determine the acidity or basicity of solutions, which affects chemical reactions, biological processes, and material properties.
Tips: Enter hydrogen ion concentration in mol/L. The value must be positive and greater than 0. The calculator will compute the corresponding pH value.
Q1: What is the relationship between pH and [H⁺]?
A: pH and [H⁺] have an inverse logarithmic relationship. Each unit change in pH represents a tenfold change in hydrogen ion concentration.
Q2: What are typical pH values?
A: Pure water has a pH of 7 (neutral). Acidic solutions have pH < 7, while basic solutions have pH > 7. The human body maintains blood pH around 7.4.
Q3: How precise is pH measurement?
A: pH can be measured precisely with pH meters, but calculated values from concentration provide a good estimate. The calculation assumes ideal conditions and may differ slightly from measured values.
Q4: Can pH be negative or greater than 14?
A: Yes, for extremely concentrated acids (pH < 0) or bases (pH > 14), though such solutions are rare and require special handling.
Q5: Why use logarithmic scale for pH?
A: The logarithmic scale compresses the wide range of hydrogen ion concentrations (from 1 to 10⁻¹⁴ mol/L) into a more manageable 0-14 scale.