Question

Please explain the pH scale. Be sure to include acid, base, and neutral as well as hydroxide and hydrogen ion concentrations.

Answer 1

The term pH symbolizes the hydrogen ion concentration in a solution (for example, what proportion of a solution contains hydrogen ions).

The pH scale goes from 1—14. A pH of 7 is neutral, meaning that the amount of hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions in a solution are equal.

For example, water has a pH of 7 because when water breaks up, the split is equitable into one hydrogen ion for every hydroxide ion.

If a solution contains more hydrogen ions than hydroxide ions, it is said to be acidic, and the pH of the solution is less than 7. If a molecule releases hydrogen ions in water, it is an acid. The more hydrogen ions it releases, the stronger the acid, and the lower the pH value.

The situation is reversed for bases. If a solution contains more hydroxide ion than hydrogen ion, it is said to be basic, and its pH is higher than 7.