pH

pH, term indicating the hydrogen ion (positively charged hydrogen atom) concentration of a solution,
a measure of the solutions acidity. Hydrogen ions are usually represented by the symbol H
+
. The term
(from French pouvoir hydrogne, hydrogen power) is defined as the negative logarithm of the
concentration of H
+
ions: pH = -log
10
[H
+
], where [H
+
] is the concentration of H
+
ions in moles per liter
(see Mole). Because H
+
ions associate with water molecules to form hydronium (H
3
O
+
) ions (see Acids
and Bases), pH also is often expressed in terms of the concentration of hydronium ions.
In pure water at 22 C (72 F), H
3
O
+
and hydroxyl (OH
-
) ions exist in equal quantities; the
concentration of each is 1 x 10
-7
moles/liter, creating a neutral solution. Consequently, the pH of pure
water is log (1 x 10
-7
), which equals log (1 x 10
7
), or 7. If acid is added to water, however, an excess
of H
3
O
+
ions is formed: H
+
(acid) plus H
2
O (water) yields H
3
O
+
(hydronium ions). When the
concentration of H
3
O
+
exceeds the concentration of OH
-
, the solution becomes acidic. In an acidic
solution, the concentration of hydronium (H
3
O
+
) ions can range from 1 to 1 x 10
-7
moles/liter (but not
including 1 x 10
-7
), depending on the strength and amount of the acid. Therefore, acid solutions have
a pH ranging from 0 up to, but not including, 7. Acids with lower numbers are stronger. Inversely,
when the concentration of OH
-
exceeds the concentration of H
3
O
+
, the solution becomes basic. In a
basic solution, the concentration of hydroxyl (OH
-
) ions can range from 1 to 1 x 10
-7
moles/liter (but
not including 1 x 10
-7
). This corresponds to a concentration of hydronium ions that ranges from 1 x
10
-14
to (but not including) 1 x 10
-7
moles/liter.

Therefore, basic solutions can have a pH ranging from
14 down to, but not including, 7. Bases with higher numbers are stronger.
The pH of a solution can be measured by titration, which consists of the neutralization of the acid (or
base) by a measured quantity of base (or acid) of known concentration, in the presence of an indicator
(a compound the color of which depends on the pH). The pH of a solution can also be determined
directly by measuring the electric potential arising at special electrodes immersed in the solution (see
Chemical Analysis).
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