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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 the negative base-10 logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration to determine the pH of a solution.
Details: pH measurement is crucial in various fields including chemistry, biology, medicine, environmental science, and industrial processes. It helps determine the acidity or alkalinity of solutions which affects chemical reactions, biological functions, and material properties.
Tips: Enter the hydrogen ion concentration in mol/L. The value must be greater than 0. For very small concentrations, scientific notation may be helpful (e.g., 1e-7 for 0.0000001).
Q1: What does a pH value of 7 indicate?
A: A pH of 7 indicates a neutral solution, where the concentration of hydrogen ions equals the concentration of hydroxide ions.
Q2: What is the pH range for acidic and basic solutions?
A: Acidic solutions have pH values less than 7, while basic (alkaline) solutions have pH values greater than 7.
Q3: Can pH be negative or greater than 14?
A: Yes, though uncommon, extremely concentrated acidic solutions can have negative pH values, and extremely concentrated basic solutions can have pH values greater than 14.
Q4: How is pH measured experimentally?
A: pH is typically measured using pH indicators, pH paper, or more accurately with a pH meter and electrode.
Q5: Why is the logarithm used in the pH calculation?
A: The logarithm is used because hydrogen ion concentrations can vary over many orders of magnitude, and the logarithmic scale provides a more convenient and intuitive representation of acidity levels.