Understanding pH
* pH is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution. It's based on the concentration of hydronium ions (H3O+).
* The formula for pH is: pH = -log[H3O+]
Calculation
1. Substitute the hydronium ion concentration into the formula:
pH = -log(10-4)
2. Use the rule of logarithms: log(ab) = b*log(a)
pH = -(-4 * log(10))
3. Simplify: log(10) = 1
pH = 4
Answer: The pH of a solution with a hydronium ion concentration of 10-4 is 4.