The Relationship Between pH and H⁺ Concentration
What is the relationship between pH and H⁺ concentration in a solution?
How can we calculate the H⁺ concentration if the pH of a solution is 3.79?
Relationship Between pH and H⁺ Concentration:
The pH of a solution is a measurement of its acidity or alkalinity. It is a logarithmic scale that indicates the concentration of hydrogen ions (H⁺) present in the solution. The lower the pH value, the higher the H⁺ concentration, and the more acidic the solution.
Calculation of H⁺ Concentration:
Given the pH of 3.79, we can calculate the H⁺ concentration using the formula [H3O+] = 10^-pH. Applying this formula, we find that the H⁺ concentration is 1.62 x 10⁻⁴ M.
When discussing the relationship between pH and H⁺ concentration, it is essential to understand that pH is a logarithmic scale. Each whole pH value below 7 is ten times more acidic than the next higher value. For example, a solution with a pH of 3 is ten times more acidic than a solution with a pH of 4. The same logic applies to H⁺ concentration; as the pH value decreases, the H⁺ concentration increases exponentially.
For the calculation of H⁺ concentration when the pH is given, we can use the formula [H3O+] = 10^-pH. In this case, with a pH of 3.79, we plug in the value and calculate as follows:
[H3O+] = 10^-3.79
[H3O+] = 1.62 x 10⁻⁴ M
Therefore, the H⁺ concentration in a solution with a pH of 3.79 is 1.62 x 10⁻⁴ M.