Is litmus paper useful in determining the exact pH of a substance?

Question

That's confusing.

and why? i understand that it can not tell you its EXACT pH of a substance, but i just don't understand WHY it cannot.

Answer 1

Litmus paper can not tell you the exact pH of a substance because it will only turn two colors. These colors will tell you if the substance is an acid (gives of H+ ions) or a base (gives off OH- ions). Blue litmus paper stays blue in a base, and turns red in an acid. Red litmus paper stays red in an acid, and turns blue in a base. If you want to measure exact pH, you will need something called indicator paper. This paper usually come in a little box with a color code on the side. You dip the paper in the solution, and it turns a specific color. You then match this color with the color code on the side of the indicator paper box, and determine the pH of the substance.

>>As to answer your question of exactly why litmus paper can't measure the temperature of a substance, the answer is this. It just doesn't. It really doesn't get simpler then that. It isn't able to, so it can't. It's not chemically similar to the indicator paper, so it only gives you a relative pH.

Answer 2

Litmus paper turns red or blue, so it can tell you if something is acidic or basic, but it can not tell you the exact pH.

Answer 3

Litmus paper is the most basic pH detector. There are many more accurate and sophisticated methods.
For all intents and purposes, it is good enough .