A measure of the hydrogen ion concentration [H+], pH is calculated using the following formula:
- pH = -log10[H+]
Hydrogen ion concentration [H+] can be calculated using the following formula:
- [H+] = 10-pH
Example One (pH):
Find the pH of a 0.2 M solution of HCl:
- Write the balanced equation for the dissociation of the acid:
- HCL ==> H+(aq) + Cl-(aq)
- Use the equation to find the [H+]:
- 0.2 M x (1/1) = 0.2 M of [H+] **HCl is a strong acid which fully dissociates**
- Calculate pH:
- pH = -log10[H+]
- pH = -log10[0.2]
- pH = 0.7
Example Two (pH):
Find the pH of a 0.2 M solution of H2SO4:
- Write the balanced equation for the dissociation of the acid:
- H2SO4 ==> 2H+(aq) + SO42- (aq)
- Use the equation to find the [H+]:
- 0.2 M x (2) = 0.4 M of [H+] **H2SO4 is another strong acid which fully dissociates**
- Calculate pH:
- pH = -log10[H+]
- pH = -log10[0.4]
- pH = 0.4
Example Three (pH):
Find the [H+] of a nitric acid solution with a pH of 3.0:
- Use the formula to find the [H+]:
- pH = 3.0
- [H+] = 10-pH
- [H+] = 10-3.0
- [H+] = 0.001 M
- Check it:
- pH = -log10[H+]
- pH = -log10[0.001]
- pH = 3.0
Bases and pOH:
A measure of the hydroxide ion concentration [OH-], pOH is calculated using the following formula:
- pOH = -log10[OH-]
Hydroxide ion concentration [OH-] can be calculated using the following formula:
- [OH-] = 10-pOH
Example One (pOH):
Find the pOH of a 0.1 M solution of NaOH:
- Write the balanced equation for the dissociation of the base:
- NaOH ==> Na+(aq) + OH-(aq)
- Use the equation to find the [OH-]:
- 0.1 M x (1) = 0.1 M of [OH-] **NaOH is a strong base which fully dissociates**
- Calculate pH:
- pH = -log10[OH-]
- pH = -log10[0.1]
- pH = 1
Example Two (pOH):
Find the pOH of a 0.1 M solution of Ba(OH)2:
- Write the balanced equation for the dissociation of the base:
- Ba(OH)2 ==> 2OH-(aq) + Ba2+ (aq)
- Use the equation to find the [OH-]:
- 0.1 M x (2) = 0.2 M of [OH-] **Ba(OH)2 is another strong base which fully dissociates**
- Calculate pH:
- pH = -log10[OH-]
- pH = -log10[0.2]
- pH = 0.7
Example Three (pOH):
Find the [OH-] of a sodium hydroxide solution with a pOH of 1.0:
- Use the formula to find the [OH-]:
- pH = 3.0
- [OH-] = 10-pOH
- [OH-] = 10-1.0
- [OH-] = 0.1 M
- Check it:
- pH = -log10[OH-]
- pH = -log10[0.1]
- pH = 1.0
Another formula to know from this unit that greatly simplifies things is:
- **pH and pOH = 14**
- Simon Sierra, George Spencer and Ben Suratos