PH: Difference between revisions
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imported>David E. Volk (add equation form of definition) |
imported>David E. Volk (more equations) |
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pH is defined by | pH is defined by | ||
<math> pH = -log \frac{1} | <math> pH = -log \left[H_\mathrm{3}O^+\right] = log \frac{1}{\left[H_\mathrm{3}O^+\right]} </math> | ||
Because of concentration of hydroxide ions times the concentration of hydronium ion is constant, namely | |||
<math> \left[H_\mathrm{3}O^+\right] \left[OH^-\right] = 1.0 x 10^{-14} </math> | |||
<math> \left(pH + pOH\right) = 14 </math> |
Revision as of 14:53, 9 October 2007
Potential of hydrogen (pH) is a scale that measures the acidity or alkalinity of a solution. Values for pH range from 0 (strongly acidic) to 14 (strongly alkaline or basic). The pH of a neutral solution, such as pure water, is 7, whereas the pH of an acidic solution is less than 7 and the pH of a basic solution is greater than 7. The pH scale is logarithmic, meaning that each value is 10 fold the next (for example, a pH of 12 is 10 times more basic than a pH value of 11).
pH is defined by
Because of concentration of hydroxide ions times the concentration of hydronium ion is constant, namely