pH Scale and Acids/Bases

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts associated with pH, acids, bases, and the metric system from the lecture notes.

pH

A scale that describes the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution.

Neutral solution

A solution where [H+] = [OH-] = 10^-7 M.

Acidic solution

A solution where [H+] > [OH-].

Basic solution

A solution where [H+] < [OH-].

pH of pure water

The pH of pure water is 7.

Strong acids

Acids that completely dissociate in water, such as HCl.

Buffers

Substances that help maintain a constant pH by accepting or releasing protons.

Logarithmic scale

The pH scale is logarithmic, meaning small changes in pH represent large changes in [H+].

Importance of pH

Protons influence many biological molecules and reactions, and changes in pH can be lethal.

Hydrogen ion concentration

Denoted as [H+], it is crucial for determining acidity or basicity of a solution.