Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
The pH Concept
11- Definition : The pH of a solution is a measure of the molar concentration of hydrogen ions
in the solution and as such is a measure of
the acidity or basicity of the solution. The
letters pH stand for "power of hydrogen"
and the numerical value is defined as the
negative base 10 logarithm of the molar
concentration of hydrogen ions.
pH = -log10[H+]
12-pH measurement.
Though water is regarded as a non-conductor, yet even the purest water has a
small conductivity as it ionises to a very slight extent.
Exercise 1 :
An aqueous solution of methanoic acid HCO 2 H with a concentration of C = 3.0
10 -2 mol / l has a pH of 2.65 at 25.degree.
1. Write the equation of the reaction that occurs when dissolving the acid
Methanoic acid in water.
2. Determine the concentrations of oxonium ions, methanoate ions and
Methanoic acid in this solution.
3. Deduce the values of the acidity constant KA and the pKA of the couple considered at
25C
Consider an indicator which is a weak acid, with the formula HIn. At equilibrium, the
following chemical equation is established.
The acid and its conjugate base have different colors. At low pH, the concentration of H3O+ is
high and so the equilibrium position lies to the left. The equilibrium solution has the color A.
At high pH, the concentration of H3O+ is low and so the equilibrium position thus lies to the
right and the equilibrium solution has color B.