why is it that a pH of 3 is more acidic than somehting with a pH of ten
2007-08-28 12:02:38 · 4 answers · asked by bynumbrodrick 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Acidic pH values go down from 7, and alkaline ones up from 7.
The pH is calculated using the negative of a logarithm. This is why the pH goes down when the acidity goes up.
2007-08-28 12:08:18 · answer #1 · answered by Gervald F 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
pH (potential of hydrogen) is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution. H represents [H+], the concentration of hydrogen ions. It is an inverse log---The pH scale is logarithmic which means that moving on (unit either way on the pH scale results in a 10 fold increase in the degree of alkalinity or acidity.
2007-08-28 12:08:30 · answer #2 · answered by originalsmartie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's just how it goes.
On the pH scale, a pH of 1 is most acidic and 14 is least acidic. Or 1 is least alkaline and 14 is most alkaline.
2007-08-28 12:11:07 · answer #3 · answered by violet 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
pH = -log{H+] = log (1/[H+])
pH of 3; [H+] = 0.001 molar (1x10^-3)
pH of 10; [H+} = 0.0000000001 molar (1x10^-10)
2007-08-28 12:09:16 · answer #4 · answered by skipper 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋