pH: Importance, Impact, and Consequences of pH Changes
pH is a critical measure that indicates the acidity or alkalinity of a solution. It plays an essential role in various biological, environmental, and industrial processes. What is pH? pH is a logarithmic scale used to express the acidity or alkalinity of a solution. It quantifies the concentration of hydrogen ions (H⁺) present. The scale ranges from 0 to 14: pH < 7: Acidic Acidic Solutions have a pH value less than 7, indicating a higher concentration of hydrogen ions (H⁺) relative to hydroxide ions (OH⁻). Hydrogen Ion Concentration: In acidic solutions, the concentration of hydrogen ions is greater than that of hydroxide ions. This means there are more H⁺ ions present in the solution, leading to an acidic environment. The formula for pH is given by pH = − log [ H + ] \text{pH} = -\log[\text{H}^+] pH = − log [ H + ] , where [H⁺] is the concentration of hydrogen ions. Therefore, a lower pH value corresponds to a higher concentration of H⁺ ions. Properties of Acidic Solutions: T