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Why Is the Ph Scale Logarithmic?

James H. Sterling • • 6 min read
Why Is the Ph Scale Logarithmic?

On the pH scale, pH values below 7 represent acidic solutions (hydrogen ion activity greater than hydroxide ion

hydroxide ion
Hydroxide is a diatomic anion with chemical formula OH−. It consists of an oxygen and hydrogen atom held together by a single covalent bond, and carries a negative electric charge. It is an important but usually minor constituent of water. It functions as a base, a ligand, a nucleophile, and a catalyst.
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activity) while values above 7 represent basic solutions. ... In order to easily manage and represent the wide range of ion activities, a logarithmic pH scale is used.

How is the pH scale a logarithmic scale?

pH is a logarithmic scale. This means that for each one-digit change in pH, the acidity (H+ concentration) changes by 10 times. For example, a solution with a pH of 4 has 10 times more H+ than a solution with a pH of 5.

Why is the pH scale not linear?

more acid is one pH than another?” This question is not so straightforward to answer, because pH is not on a linear scale, like a ruler. Instead, it is on a negative log scale. Soils that are higher in acidity actually have smaller pH values, thanks to the negative log scale. The pH scale goes from 0 to 14.

James H. Sterling
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James H. Sterling

James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.