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To calculate the pH of an aqueous solution

you need to know the concentration of the hydronium ion in
moles per liter (molarity). The pH is then calculated using
the expression:
pH = - log [H3O+].

 Find the pH of a 0.0025 M HCl solution. The HCl is
a strong acid and is 100% ionized in water. The hydronium
ion concentration is 0.0025 M. Thus:
pH = - log (0.0025) = - ( - 2.60) = 2.60
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The hydronium ion concentration can be found from the pH

by the reverse of the mathematical operation employed to
find the pH.
[H3O+] = 10-pH or [H3O+] = antilog (- pH)

 What is the hydronium ion concentration in a
solution that has a pH of 8.34?
8.34 = - log [H3O+]
- 8.34 = log [H3O+]
[H3O+] = 10-8.34 = 4.57 x 10-9 M
On a calculator, calculate 10-8.34, or "inverse" log ( - 8.34).
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To calculate the pOH of a solution you need to know the

concentration of the hydroxide ion in moles per liter
(molarity). The pOH is then calculated using the expression:
pOH = - log [OH-]

 What is the pOH of a solution that has a hydroxide
ion concentration of 4.82 x 10-5 M?
pOH = - log [4.82 x 10-5] = - ( - 4.32) = 4.32
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The hydroxide ion concentration can be found from the pOH

by the reverse mathematical operation employed to find the
pOH.
[OH-] = 10-pOH or [OH-] = antilog ( - pOH)

 What is the hydroxide ion concentration in a
solution that has a pOH of 5.70?
5.70 = - log [OH-]
-5.70 = log[OH-]
[OH-] = 10-5.70 = 2.00 x 10-6 M
On a calculator calculate 10-5.70, or "inverse" log (- 5.70).
 
 
  

The pH and pOH of a water solution at 25oC are related by

the following equation.
pH + pOH = 14
If either the pH or the pOH of a solution is known, the other
can be quickly calculated.

 A solution has a pOH of 11.76. What is the pH of
this solution?
pH = 14 - pOH = 14 - 11.76 = 2.24
 Why pH + pOH = 14 Water ungergoes auto- or self-ionization as shown in the
following equation.
2 H2O --> H3O+ + OH-
An equilibrium is established between the ions produced and the unionized
water. An equilibrium expression can be written for this system.
Kw = [H3O+][OH-]
Kw is used to represent the equilibrium constant for the ionization of water. It is a
special notation of the general representation Kc.
The value of Kw when measured at 25°C has been determined to be 1 x 10-14.
Mathematically, if one takes the log of both sides of the equation, remembering
that when numbers are multiplied their logs are added, we arrive at the following
equation.
log (1 x 10-14) = log [H3O+] + log [OH-]
The log (1 x 10-14) = - 14.
Thus, - 14 = log[H3O+] + log [OH-]
Multiplying both sides of the equation by -1, we get
14 = - log [H3O+] - log [OH-]
The - log [H3O+] is defined as the pH, and the - log [OH-] is defined as the pOH.
Substituting into the equation yields the relationship between pH and pOH of
a solution.
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The pKa is calculated using the expression:
pKa = - log (Ka)
where "Ka" is the equilibrium constant for the ionization of
the acid.

 What is the pKa of acetic acid, if Ka for acetic acid is
1.78 x 10-5?
pKa = - log (1.78 x 10-5) = - ( - 4.75) = 4.75
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The Ka for an acid is calculated from the pKa by performing
the reverse of the mathematical operation used to find pKa.
Ka = 10-pKa or Ka = antilog ( - pKa)

 Calculate the value of the ionization constant for
the ammonium ion, Ka, if the pKa is 9.74.
9.74 = - log (Ka)
-9.74 = log (Ka)
Ka = 10-9.74 = 1.82 x 10-10
On a calculator calculate 10-9.74, or "inverse" log ( - 9.74).
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The pKb is calculated using the expression:
pKb = - log (Kb)
where Kb is the equilibrium constant for the ionization of a
base.

 What is the pKb for methyl amine, if the value of Kb
for methyl amine is 4.4 x 10-4?
pKb = - log (4.4 x 10-4) = - ( - 3.36) = 3.36
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The Kb for an acid is calculated from the pKb by performing
the reverse of the mathematical operation used to find pKb.
Kb = 10-pKb or Kb = antilog ( - pKb)

 Calculate the value of the ionization constant, Kb,
for aniline if the pKb is 9.38.
9.38 = - log (Kb)
-9.38 = log (Kb)
Kb = 10-9.38 = 4.17 x 10-10
On a calculator calculate 10-9.38, or "inverse" log ( - 9.38).