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The pH scale is an inverse logarithmic representation of hydrogen proton (H+) concentration. Unlike linear scales, which have a constant relationship between the item being measured and the value reported, each individual pH unit is a factor of 10 different than the next higher or lower unit.

For example, a change in pH from 1 to 2 represents a 10-fold decrease in H+ concentration, and a shift from 1 to 3 represents a one-hundred-fold decrease in H+ concentration.

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How are pH and logarithm related?

pH is a logarithmic scale used to specify the acidity or basicity of a solution. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14, with lower values indicating acidity and higher values indicating basicity. pH = -log[H+], where [H+] is the concentration of hydrogen ions in the solution.


Why is zero the lowest number on the pH scale?

Well...zero isn't really the lowest number on the pH scale. To simplify things, we teach kids that the scale goes from 0-14, but in reality, a solution can have a negative pH. The pH is the negative log of the hydrogen concentration or -log[H+]. So for -log[H+] to be negative, log[H+] has to be positive; therefore, [H+] would have to be greater than one. A solution that has a negative pH is extremely acidic! For example, a solution with a hydrogen concentration of 2.2 M would have a pH of -log[2.2] = -0.342 The reason we use 0-14 in abstraction is because pH + pOH = 14


Is a scale that measures the acidity or basicity of a solution along a range of zero to 14.?

pH


How much more basic is a solution with a pH of 13 than one with a pH of 10?

Since pH is a logarithmic scale, each increase (or decrease) by 1 means 10 times, so the change of pH in a solution from 10 to 11 would be 10 times, 11 to 12 would be 10 times, and 12 to 13 would be 10 times, and (10)(10)(10) is 1000, so a solution with pH 13 is 1000 times more basic then a solution with pH 10


How many more times basic is a pH of 12 compared to a pH of 8?

Each pH number is a (common) log of hydrogen ion concentration, thus pH 12 is 10 x 10 x 10x 10 (or 10000) less acidic than pH 8.

Related Questions

Why is the PH scale called a log scale?

The pH scale is called a log scale because each unit increases or decreases logarithmically. What this means is that if you were to go from a pH of 7 to a pH of 8 you have increased your concentration of -OH ions ten fold or from a pH of 7 to a pH of 9 would be a 100 fold increase of -OH concentration. Incidentally, pH refers to a mathematical equation where p is the inverse log of H+ (acid/protons) concentration in solition. Thus we are measuring the inverse log concentration of H+ ions or simply put: pH.The equation looks like the following: pH = -log[H+]


Why is the graph of log against pH a straight line?

pH is a logarithmic scale; because of the way calculus and maths works, graphing such a scale against a log results in a straight line.


How are logarithms used in our society?

Many scales such as sound and PH are log scales. The scale used to measure earthquakes is also a log scale. Whenever the data has a very wide range, a log scale might help.


How are pH and logarithm related?

pH is a logarithmic scale used to specify the acidity or basicity of a solution. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14, with lower values indicating acidity and higher values indicating basicity. pH = -log[H+], where [H+] is the concentration of hydrogen ions in the solution.


What makes up PH scale?

The Ph scale doesn't have units it's a model to show where solutions rank based on the -Log of the concentration of H+ ions


Because the pH scale is an inverse log of the hydrogen ion concentration what numbers from the pH scale would be more basic?

pH above 7 till 14 is basic. pH of 14 is most basic


What does the number seven mean on a pH scale?

it is neutral. Water is a 7 on the pH scale


Why is zero the lowest number on the pH scale?

Well...zero isn't really the lowest number on the pH scale. To simplify things, we teach kids that the scale goes from 0-14, but in reality, a solution can have a negative pH. The pH is the negative log of the hydrogen concentration or -log[H+]. So for -log[H+] to be negative, log[H+] has to be positive; therefore, [H+] would have to be greater than one. A solution that has a negative pH is extremely acidic! For example, a solution with a hydrogen concentration of 2.2 M would have a pH of -log[2.2] = -0.342 The reason we use 0-14 in abstraction is because pH + pOH = 14


What Does high pH mean on a pH scale?

A pH over 7 is basic.


What base mean in science on the pH scale?

A soluble base is an alkali, so above 7 on the pH scale.


If solution a has a pH of 5 and solution b has 100 times the hydrogen ion concentration of solution A what is the pH of solution B?

The pH of solution b would be 3. This is because the pH scale is a logarithmic scale, so solution b would have a pH that is 2 units lower than solution a, since it has 100 times the hydrogen ion concentration.


Is a scale that measures the acidity or basicity of a solution along a range of zero to 14.?

pH