* pH scale: The pH scale measures the acidity or alkalinity of a solution. It ranges from 0 to 14, with:
* 0 to 6.9: Acidic solutions (higher H₃O⁺ concentration)
* 7: Neutral solution (equal H₃O⁺ and OH⁻ concentration)
* 7.1 to 14: Basic or alkaline solutions (lower H₃O⁺ concentration)
* The Relationship: The pH is calculated using the following equation:
pH = -log[H₃O⁺]
where [H₃O⁺] represents the concentration of hydronium ions in moles per liter (M).
* Key Points:
* As the concentration of hydronium ions increases, the pH decreases (more acidic).
* As the concentration of hydronium ions decreases, the pH increases (more alkaline).
Example:
* A solution with a hydronium ion concentration of 1 x 10⁻⁴ M has a pH of 4.
* A solution with a hydronium ion concentration of 1 x 10⁻¹⁰ M has a pH of 10.
In summary:
* Higher [H₃O⁺] = Lower pH (more acidic)
* Lower [H₃O⁺] = Higher pH (more alkaline)
