What is the pH Scale?

The pH scale is a logarithmic scale used to specify the acidity or basicity (alkalinity) of an aqueous solution. It ranges from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral. Values below 7 indicate acidity, and values above 7 indicate alkalinity.

🧪 Understanding pH: The Basics

• pH stands for "potential of hydrogen." It measures the concentration of hydrogen ions (\(H^+\)) in a solution.
• A high concentration of \(H^+\) ions indicates acidity (low pH).
• A low concentration of \(H^+\) ions indicates alkalinity (high pH).
• Pure water has a pH of 7, meaning it's neither acidic nor alkaline.

🚀 How it works

The pH scale is logarithmic, meaning each whole pH value below 7 is ten times more acidic than the next higher value. The same holds true for values above 7, but in the alkaline direction. Think of it like this:

• pH 6 is 10 times more acidic than pH 7.
• pH 5 is 100 times (10 x 10) more acidic than pH 7.
• pH 8 is 10 times more alkaline than pH 7.

🍋 Real-World Examples

To put it into perspective, consider these everyday examples:

• Lemon juice: Highly acidic, with a pH around 2.
• Vinegar: Acidic, with a pH around 3.
• Baking soda: Alkaline, with a pH around 9.
• Household bleach: Highly alkaline, with a pH around 13.

🧮 Calculating pH

The pH is mathematically defined as:

Where \([H^+]\) is the concentration of hydrogen ions in moles per liter (M).

Pro Tip: Many chemical reactions, biological processes, and environmental factors are highly sensitive to pH. Maintaining the correct pH is crucial in areas such as medicine, agriculture, and water treatment.

🌡️ Factors Affecting pH

• Temperature: pH can change with temperature.
• Dissolved substances: The presence of acids, bases, or salts affects pH.
• Chemical reactions: Reactions occurring in a solution can alter the pH.