The pH Scale

Flashcards that cover key vocabulary and concepts related to the pH scale.

pH Scale

A scale used to describe the acidity or basicity of solutions.

Acidic Solution

A solution with a pH value less than 7.

Neutral Solution

A solution with a pH value of 7.

Basic Solution

A solution with a pH value greater than 7.

Logarithmic Scale

A scale in which each successive value represents a tenfold change; used in the pH scale to relate pH to [H3O+].

pH Meter

An electronic device used to measure the pH of a solution.

pH Paper

Paper that changes color to indicate the pH value of a solution.

Indicators

Substances that change color depending on the pH level of the solution.

Calculating pH

The formula pH = −log[H3O+] is used to calculate the pH based on hydronium ion concentration.

Significant Figures

The rule that states that the number of decimal places in the pH value equals the number of significant figures in the coefficient of [H3O+].

[H3O+]

Hydronium ion concentration, which can be calculated from pH using the equation [H3O+] = 10^(-pH).

Aspiring Calculation

An example of calculating pH from the concentration of hydronium ions in an aspirin solution.