What is the pH?

Question

If a sample of a certain solution is determined to have a [H₃ O⁺ ] concentration of 4.36 x 10^-10 moles/liter, what is its pH? Round off your answer to one decimal place.

Answer 1

Hi McKinley,

Using the equation of pH=-log[H+ or H30+], we can find the sample's pH. When given the molarity (indicated by the []) of a sample, you can simple plug this into the calculator by using the following steps (or you answer may not be correct)

1) press the "log" function

2) enter "4.36 X (shift/2nd "log" to get "10^blank"), -10"

(NOTE: make sure this is the H+/H30+ molarity and not the OH- molarity)

3) press enter

4) Multiply this value by -1 to find pH, is should be a value between 0-14