What is pH? a) The positive logarithm of the hydroxide ion concentrati...
What is pH?pH is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution. It indicates the concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) in the solution. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14, with 7 being considered neutral. Values below 7 indicate acidity, while values above 7 indicate alkalinity. pH is an important concept in chemistry and biology, as it can affect various chemical reactions and biological processes.
Explanation:a) The positive logarithm of the hydroxide ion concentrationThis statement is incorrect. pH is not related to the hydroxide ion concentration.
b) The positive logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentrationThis statement is correct. pH is defined as the negative logarithm (base 10) of the hydrogen ion concentration in a solution. The hydrogen ion concentration represents the acidity or alkalinity of the solution. The pH scale is logarithmic, meaning that a change of one unit on the pH scale corresponds to a tenfold difference in the concentration of hydrogen ions. For example, a solution with a pH of 3 has 10 times more hydrogen ions than a solution with a pH of 4.
c) The negative logarithm of the hydroxide ion concentrationThis statement is incorrect. The negative logarithm of the hydroxide ion concentration is related to pOH, not pH. pOH is the measure of the alkalinity of a solution and is defined as the negative logarithm of the hydroxide ion concentration. pH and pOH are related by the equation pH + pOH = 14, which holds true for aqueous solutions at 25°C.
d) The negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentrationThis statement is correct. pH is indeed the negative logarithm (base 10) of the hydrogen ion concentration. The negative sign indicates that pH is an inverse measure of acidity, where low pH values correspond to high hydrogen ion concentrations and high acidity, while high pH values correspond to low hydrogen ion concentrations and alkalinity.
In conclusion, the correct answer is
b) The positive logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration. pH is a measure of acidity or alkalinity, defined as the negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration in a solution.