pH is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution, defined as the negative logarithm (base 10) of the hydrogen ion concentration. It ranges from 0 to 14, with lower values being more acidic and higher values more basic.
congrats on reading the definition of pH. now let's actually learn it.
The pH scale is logarithmic, meaning each whole number change represents a tenfold increase or decrease in hydrogen ion concentration.
A pH of 7 is considered neutral, which is the pH of pure water at 25°C.
pH can be calculated using the formula $\text{pH} = -\log_{10}[H^+]$ where $[H^+]$ is the hydrogen ion concentration in moles per liter.
In algebraic terms, if you know the pH value, you can find $[H^+]$ using exponential functions: $[H^+] = 10^{-\text{pH}}$.
The properties of logarithms such as product, quotient, and power rules are essential when solving pH-related problems.
Review Questions
What does a pH value indicate about a solution's acidity or alkalinity?
How do you calculate the hydrogen ion concentration from a given pH value?
What logarithmic property would you use to solve for pH when given a product of concentrations?
Related terms
Logarithm: A mathematical function that determines how many times one number must be multiplied by itself to obtain another number. Expressed as $\log_b(a)$.
Exponential Function: A function in which an independent variable appears in the exponent. Commonly expressed as $f(x) = b^x$.
Hydrogen Ion Concentration: The amount of hydrogen ions present in a solution, typically expressed in moles per liter ($[H^+]$). Directly related to the solution's pH.