Quick question (1 Viewer)

[gadbil]

hey guys what do they mean by identify -log10 (H+) and explain that a change in pH of 1 means a ten-fold change in [H+].

thanx

 

[Fish Sauce]

hey guys what do they mean by identify -log10 (H+) and explain that a change in pH of 1 means a ten-fold change in [H+].

thanx

Basically when you measure pH you're measuring the concentration of H+ ions. Acids have a higher concentration of H+ and so their pH will be lower. If the pH is 1 and another substance's pH is 2 it means that the first substance has a concentration of H+ ions ten times greater than that in the second subtance.
For example

pH 1
1000 [H+]

pH 2
100 [H+]

pH 3
10 [H+]

Hopefully that explains it, I'm not sure if I did a very good job there :S