Multiple Choice
What does the pH scale measure in an aqueous solution?
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17. Acid and Base Equilibrium
The pH Scale
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Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first videoMultiple Choice
On the pH scale, pH is a measure of which quantity in an aqueous solution?
A
The solution density,
B
The hydrogen ion concentration, (related by )
C
The total volume of solution in liters,
D
The hydroxide ion concentration,
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand that pH is a measure of the acidity of an aqueous solution, which is directly related to the concentration of hydrogen ions (H\textsuperscript{+}) present.
Recall the definition of pH, which is given by the formula:
\(pH = -\log([H\textsuperscript{+}])\)
where \([H\textsuperscript{+}]\) is the molar concentration of hydrogen ions.
Recognize that pH does not measure solution density (\(\rho = \frac{m}{V}\)), total volume (\(V\)), or hydroxide ion concentration (\([OH\textsuperscript{-}]\)) directly, although these can be related to pH in some contexts.
Focus on the hydrogen ion concentration as the key quantity that determines pH, since pH is essentially the negative logarithm of this concentration.
Summarize that to find the pH of a solution, you need to know the hydrogen ion concentration and then apply the formula \(pH = -\log([H\textsuperscript{+}])\).
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