Question

What is the pH of a solution that is $5.0\times {{10}^{-2}}$M in ${{H}_{2}}C{{O}_{3}}$?

Answer 1

As we know that in chemistry, pH (also known as potential of hydrogen or power of hydrogen) is a scale which is used to specify the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. Generally acidic solutions are measured to have lower pH values than that of basic or alkaline solutions.
Formula used:
We will use the following formula:-
$pH=-\log [{{H}^{+}}]$, where [${{H}^{+}}$] is the concentration of the hydrogen ion.

Complete answer:
Let us first discuss about the pH scale followed by the calculation of the pH of a solution that is $5.0\times {{10}^{-2}}$M in ${{H}_{2}}C{{O}_{3}}$as follows:-
-pH scale: It is also known as potential of hydrogen or power of hydrogen. It is a scale used in chemistry to specify the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. Acidic solutions which are the solutions with higher concentrations of ${{H}^{+}}$ions are measured to have lower pH values than basic or alkaline solutions which have lower concentration of ${{H}^{+}}$ions.
The pH of the solution can be calculated by the following relation:-
$pH=-\log [{{H}^{+}}]$, where [${{H}^{+}}$] is the concentration of the hydrogen ion in that very solution.
-Calculation of pH of a solution that is $5.0\times {{10}^{-2}}$M in${{H}_{2}}C{{O}_{3}}$:-
Here the concentration of ${{H}^{+}}$= $5.0\times {{10}^{-2}}$M.
So pH = $-\log [5.0\times {{10}^{-2}}]=-(-1.30)=1.30$
-Hence, 1.30 is the pH of a solution that is $5.0\times {{10}^{-2}}$M in ${{H}_{2}}C{{O}_{3}}$.

Note:
-Remember that at 25$^{\circ }C$, solutions with a pH less than 7 are acidic whereas solutions with a pH greater than 7 are basic in nature. The 7 pH solutions are neutral.
-Also$pH+pOH=14$holds true for every solution, so we can use it to find the pOH of the same solution.