pH and pOH

J. Hollett; D. Latimer; D. Vanderwel

92 pH and pOH

Learning Objectives

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

Explain the characterization of aqueous solutions as acidic, basic, or neutral
Express hydronium and hydroxide ion concentrations on the pH and pOH scales
Perform calculations relating pH and pOH

As discussed earlier, hydronium and hydroxide ions are present both in pure water and in all aqueous solutions, and their concentrations are inversely proportional as determined by the ion product of water (K_w). The concentrations of these ions in a solution are often critical determinants of the solution’s properties and the chemical behaviors of its other solutes, and specific vocabulary has been developed to describe these concentrations in relative terms. A solution is neutral if it contains equal concentrations of hydronium and hydroxide ions; acidic if it contains a greater concentration of hydronium ions than hydroxide ions; and basic if it contains a lesser concentration of hydronium ions than hydroxide ions.

A common means of expressing quantities that may span many orders of magnitude is to use a logarithmic scale. One such scale that is very popular for chemical concentrations and equilibrium constants is based on the p-function, defined as shown where “X” is the quantity of interest and “log” is the base-10 logarithm:

pX = -logX

The pH of a solution is therefore defined as shown here, where [H₃O⁺] is the molar concentration of hydronium ion in the solution:

pH = -log[H₃O⁺]

The equation can also be expressed in terms of the [H⁺] in the solution, where it is understood that the proton would exist in association with water, as discussed previously

pH = -log[H⁺]

Rearranging this equation to isolate the hydronium ion molarity (or the hydrogen ion molarity) yields the equivalent expression:

[H₃O⁺] = 10^-pH

or

[H⁺] = 10^-pH

Likewise, the hydroxide ion molarity may be expressed as a p-function, or pOH:

pOH = -log[OH^–]

or

[OH^–]= 10^-pOH

Finally, the relation between these two ion concentration expressed as p-functions is easily derived from the K_w expression:

K_w = [H⁺] x [OH^–]

Taking the -log of both sides will yield the following:

-log(K_w) = -log([H⁺] x [OH^–])

-log(K_w) = -log[H⁺] + -log [OH^–]

pK_w = pH + pOH

At 25 °C, the value of K_w is 1.0 x 10⁻¹⁴, and so:

14.00 = pH + pOH

At neutrality, the [H⁺] = [OH^–], and so the pH = pOH so that, at 25 oC, pH = pOH = 7. Thus, hydronium ion molarity in pure water (or any neutral solution) is 1.0 x 10⁻⁷M at 25 °C.

And so, at this temperature, acidic solutions are those with hydronium ion molarities greater than 1.0 x 10⁻⁷M and hydroxide ion molarities less than 1.0 x 10⁻⁷M (corresponding to pH values less than 7.00 and pOH values greater than 7.00). Basic solutions are those with hydronium ion molarities less than 1.0 x 10⁻⁷M and hydroxide ion molarities greater than 1.0 x 10⁻⁷M (corresponding to pH values greater than 7.00 and pOH values less than 7.00).

Since the autoionization constant K_w is temperature dependent, these correlations between pH values and the acidic/neutral/basic adjectives will be different at temperatures other than 25 °C. For example, the “Check Your Learning” exercise in the previous section showed the hydronium molarity of pure water at 80 °C is 4.9 x 10⁻⁷M, which corresponds to pH and pOH values of:

$\text{pH}=\text{-log}\left[{\text{H}}_{3}{\text{O}}^{\text{+}}\right]=\text{-log}\left(4.9\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\times\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}{10}^{-7}\right)=6.31$

$\text{pOH}=\text{-log}\left[{\text{OH}}^{\text{-}}\right]=\text{-log}\left(4.9\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\times\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}{10}^{-7}\right)=6.31$

At this temperature, then, neutral solutions exhibit pH = pOH = 6.31, acidic solutions exhibit pH less than 6.31 and pOH greater than 6.31, whereas basic solutions exhibit pH greater than 6.31 and pOH less than 6.31. This distinction can be important when studying certain processes that occur at other temperatures, such as enzyme reactions in warm-blooded organisms at a temperature around 36–40 °C. Unless otherwise noted, references to pH values are presumed to be those at 25 °C (Table 92-1).

Table 92-1: Summary of Relations for Acidic, Basic and Neutral Solutions
Classification	Relative Ion Concentrations	pH at 25 °C
acidic	[H₃O⁺] > [OH⁻]	pH < 7
neutral	[H₃O⁺] = [OH⁻]	pH = 7
basic	[H₃O⁺] < [OH⁻]	pH > 7

Figure 92-1 shows the relationships between [H₃O⁺], [OH^–], pH and pOH for solutions classified as acidic, basic and neutral.

A table is provided with 5 columns. The first column is labeled “left bracket H subscript 3 O superscript plus right bracket (M).” Powers of ten are listed in the column beginning at 10 superscript 1, including 10 superscript 0 or 1, 10 superscript negative 1, decreasing by single powers of 10 to 10 superscript negative 15. The second column is labeled “left bracket O H superscript negative right bracket (M).” Powers of ten are listed in the column beginning at 10 superscript negative 15, increasing by single powers of 10 to including 10 superscript 0 or 1, and 10 superscript 1. The third column is labeled “p H.” Values listed in this column are integers beginning at negative 1, increasing by ones up to 14. The fourth column is labeled “p O H.” Values in this column are integers beginning at 15, decreasing by ones up to negative 1. The fifth column is labeled “Sample Solution.” A vertical line at the left of the column has tick marks corresponding to each p H level in the table. Substances are listed next to this line segment with line segments connecting them to the line to show approximate p H and p O H values. 1 M H C l is listed at a p H of 0. Gastric juices are listed at a p H of about 1.5. Lime juice is listed at a p H of about 2, followed by 1 M C H subscript 3 C O subscript 2 H, followed by stomach acid at a p H value of nearly 3. Wine is listed around 3.5. Coffee is listed just past 5. Pure water is listed at a p H of 7. Pure blood is just beyond 7. Milk of Magnesia is listed just past a p H of 10.5. Household ammonia is listed just before a pH of 12. 1 M N a O H is listed at a p H of 0. To the right of this labeled arrow is an arrow that points up and down through the height of the column. A beige strip passes through the table and to this double headed arrow at p H 7. To the left of the double headed arrow in this beige strip is the label “neutral.” A narrow beige strip runs through the arrow. Just above and below this region, the arrow is purple. It gradually turns to a bright red as it extends upward. At the top of the arrow, near the head of the arrow is the label “acidic.” Similarly, the lower region changes color from purple to blue moving to the bottom of the column. The head at this end of the arrow is labeled “basic.”

FIGURE 92-1: The pH and pOH scales represent concentrations of H₃O⁺ and OH⁻, respectively. The pH and pOH values of some common substances at 25 °C are shown in this chart.

Calculation of pH from [H₃O⁺]

What is the pH of stomach acid, a solution of HCl with a hydronium ion concentration of 1.2 x 10⁻³M?

Solution

$\text{pH}=\text{-log}\left[{\text{H}}_{3}{\text{O}}^{\text{+}}\right]$

$=\text{-log(}1.2\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\times\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}{10}^{-3})\right)$

$=\text{-}\left(-2.92\right)=2.92$

(The use of logarithms is explained in Appendix B. When taking the log of a value, keep as many decimal places in the result as there are significant figures in the value.)

Check Your Learning

Water exposed to air contains carbonic acid, H₂CO₃, due to the reaction between carbon dioxide and water:

${\text{CO}}_{2}\left(aq\right)+{\text{H}}_{2}\text{O(}l)\right)\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\rightleftharpoons\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}{\text{H}}_{2}{\text{CO}}_{3}\left(aq\right)$

Air-saturated water has a hydronium ion concentration caused by the dissolved CO₂ of 2.0 x 10⁻⁶M, about 20-times larger than that of pure water. Calculate the pH of the solution at 25 °C.

Answer: 5.70

Calculation of Hydronium Ion Concentration from pH

Calculate the hydronium ion concentration of blood, the pH of which is 7.3.

Solution

$\text{pH}=\text{-log}\left[{\text{H}}_{3}{\text{O}}^{\text{+}}\right]=7.3$

$\text{log}\left[{\text{H}}_{3}{\text{O}}^{\text{+}}\right]=-7.3$

$\left[{\text{H}}_{3}{\text{O}}^{\text{+}}\right]={10}^{-7.3}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\text{or}\phantom{\rule{0.4em}{0ex}}\left[{\text{H}}_{3}{\text{O}}^{\text{+}}\right]=\text{antilog of -7.3}$

$\left[{\text{H}}_{3}{\text{O}}^{\text{+}}\right]=5\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\times\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}{10}^{-8}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}M$

(On a calculator take the antilog, or the “inverse” log, of −7.3, or calculate 10^−7.3.)

Check Your Learning

Calculate the hydronium ion concentration of a solution with a pH of −1.07.

Answer: 12 M

Calculation of pOH

What are the pOH and the pH of a 0.0125 M solution of potassium hydroxide, KOH?

Solution

Potassium hydroxide is a highly soluble ionic compound and completely dissociates when dissolved in dilute solution, yielding [OH⁻] = 0.0125 M:

$\text{pOH}=\text{-log}\left[{\text{OH}}^{\text{-}}\right]=\text{-log}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}0.0125$

$=\text{-}\left(-1.903\right)=1.903$

The pH can be found from the pOH:

$\text{pH}+\text{pOH}=14.00$

$\text{pH}=14.00-\text{pOH}=14.00-1.903=12.10$

Check Your Learning

The hydronium ion concentration of vinegar is approximately 4 x 10⁻³M. What are the corresponding values of pOH and pH?

Answer: pOH = 11.6, pH = 2.4

The acidity of a solution is typically assessed experimentally by measurement of its pH. The pOH of a solution is not usually measured, as it is easily calculated from an experimentally determined pH value. The pH of a solution can be directly measured using a pH meter (Figure 92-2).

This figure contains two images. The first, image a, is of an analytical digital p H meter on a laboratory counter. The second, image b, is of a portable hand held digital p H meter.

FIGURE 92-2: (a) A research-grade pH meter used in a laboratory can have a resolution of 0.001 pH units, an accuracy of ± 0.002 pH units, and may cost in excess of 💲1000. (b) A portable pH meter has lower resolution (0.01 pH units), lower accuracy (± 0.2 pH units), and a far lower price tag. (credit b: modification of work by Jacopo Werther)

The pH of a solution may also be visually estimated using colored indicators (Figure 92-3). The acid-base equilibria that enable use of these indicator dyes for pH measurements are described in a later section of this chapter.

FIGURE 92-3: (a) A solution containing a dye mixture, called universal indicator, takes on different colors depending upon its pH. (b) Convenient test strips, called pH paper, contain embedded indicator dyes that yield pH-dependent color changes on contact with aqueous solutions.(credit: modification of work by Sahar Atwa)

How Sciences Interconnect – Environmental Science

Acid Rain

Normal rainwater has a pH between 5 and 6 due to the presence of dissolved CO₂ which forms carbonic acid:

${\text{H}}_{2}\text{O}\left(l\right)+{\text{CO}}_{2}\left(g\right)\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\rightarrow\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}{\text{H}}_{2}{\text{CO}}_{3}\left(aq\right)$

${\text{H}}_{2}{\text{CO}}_{3}\left(aq\right)\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\rightleftharpoons\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}{\text{H}}^{\text{+}}\left(aq\right)+{\text{HCO}}_{3}{}^{\text{-}}\left(aq\right)$

Acid rain is rainwater that has a pH of less than 5, due to a variety of nonmetal oxides, including CO₂, SO₂, SO₃, NO, and NO₂ being dissolved in the water and reacting with it to form not only carbonic acid, but sulfuric acid and nitric acid. The formation and subsequent ionization of sulfuric acid are shown here:

${\text{H}}_{2}\text{O}\left(l\right)+{\text{SO}}_{3}\left(g\right)\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\rightarrow\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}{\text{H}}_{2}{\text{SO}}_{4}\left(aq\right)$

${\text{H}}_{2}{\text{SO}}_{4}\left(aq\right)\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\rightleftharpoons\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}{\text{H}}^{\text{+}}\left(aq\right)+{\text{HSO}}_{4}{}^{\text{-}}\left(aq\right)$

Carbon dioxide is naturally present in the atmosphere because most organisms produce it as a waste product of metabolism. Carbon dioxide is also formed when fires release carbon stored in vegetation or fossil fuels. Sulfur trioxide in the atmosphere is naturally produced by volcanic activity, but it also originates from burning fossil fuels, which have traces of sulfur, and from the process of “roasting” ores of metal sulfides in metal-refining processes. Oxides of nitrogen are formed in internal combustion engines where the high temperatures make it possible for the nitrogen and oxygen in air to chemically combine.

Acid rain is a particular problem in industrial areas where the products of combustion and smelting are released into the air without being stripped of sulfur and nitrogen oxides. In North America and Europe until the 1980s, it was responsible for the destruction of forests and freshwater lakes, when the acidity of the rain actually killed trees, damaged soil, and made lakes uninhabitable for all but the most acid-tolerant species. Acid rain also corrodes statuary and building facades that are made of marble and limestone (Figure 92-4). Regulations limiting the amount of sulfur and nitrogen oxides that can be released into the atmosphere by industry and automobiles have reduced the severity of acid damage to both natural and manmade environments in North America and Europe. It is now a growing problem in industrial areas of China and India.

Two photos are shown. Photograph a on the left shows the upper portion of trees against a bright blue sky. The tops of several trees at the center of the photograph have bare branches and appear to be dead. Image b shows a statue of a man that appears to from the revolutionary war era in either marble or limestone.

FIGURE 92-4: (a) Acid rain makes trees more susceptible to drought and insect infestation, and depletes nutrients in the soil. (b) It also is corrodes statues that are carved from marble or limestone. (credit a: modification of work by Chris M Morris; credit b: modification of work by “Eden, Janine and Jim”/Flickr)

Ocean Acidification:

The pH of the oceans is decreasing at an alarming rate: the average pH of the ocean surface fell from ~8.15 to ~8.05 between 1950 and 2020. This may not seem like a big difference, but remember that the pH scale is logarithmic. You now have the tools to work out that this corresponds to an increase in [H⁺] from 7.09 nM to 8.91 nM (recall that 1 nM = 10^-9M) — an increase of about 20%!!! The increased acidity of the oceans has a profound effect on ocean ecosystems.

One major contributor to ocean acidification is the increased level of CO₂ in the atmosphere, mainly due to human activities such as fossil fuel combustion and deforestation. The oceans absorb much of this atmospheric CO₂. The dissolved CO₂ forms carbonic acid, which releases protons and, thus, decreases the pH. This is the same equilibrium discussed above:

${\text{H}}_{2}\text{O}\left(l\right)+{\text{CO}}_{2}\left(g\right)\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\rightarrow\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}{\text{H}}_{2}{\text{CO}}_{3}\left(aq\right)$

${\text{H}}_{2}{\text{CO}}_{3}\left(aq\right)\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\rightleftharpoons\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}{\text{H}}^{\text{+}}\left(aq\right)+{\text{HCO}}_{3}{}^{\text{-}}\left(aq\right)$

Many marine organisms grow shells from

On the left is an image of a healthy coral reef; on the right is an image of a dead coral reef

FIGURE 92-5: One effect of ocean acidification is that it makes it harder for corals to build and maintain their calcium carbonate skeletons. On the left is an image of a healthy coral reef; on the right is a dead coral reef. (Image credits: “229 Tropical Pacific – Live Coral (1)” by The Fun Chronicles is marked with CC0 1.0. and “Dead Corals” by prilfish is licensed under CC BY 2.0.)

Key Concepts and Summary

Concentrations of hydronium and hydroxide ions in aqueous media are often represented as logarithmic pH and pOH values, respectively.

The relative concentrations of hydronium and hydroxide ion in a solution define its status as acidic ([H₃O⁺] > [OH⁻]), basic ([H₃O⁺] < [OH⁻]), or neutral ([H₃O⁺] = [OH⁻]).

At 25 °C, a pH < 7 indicates an acidic solution, a pH > 7 a basic solution, and a pH = 7 a neutral solution.

Key Equations

pH = -log[H⁺]
pOH = -log[OH⁻]
[H₃O⁺] = 10^−pH
[OH⁻] = 10^−pOH
pH + pOH = pK_w = 14.00 at 25 °C

Section 92 Practice Questions

Click on this link to access the worked solutions to these problems (as a downloadable pdf).

What are the pH and pOH of a solution of 2.0 M HCl? Recall that HCl is a strong acid, and ionizes completely in aqueous solution.

2. Calculate the pH and the pOH of each of the following solutions at 25 °C. (Note that these substances are strong acids, and so are completely ionized in aqueous solution).

(a) 0.200 M HCl

(b) 0.350 M HNO₃

3. Calculate the pH and the pOH of each of the following solutions at 25 °C. (Note that these substances are strong bases, and so are completely ionized in aqueous solution).

(b) 0.0143 M NaOH

(b) 0.0031 M Ca(OH)₂

4. Calculate the pH and the pOH of each of the following solutions at 25 °C. Are the solutions acidic, basic or neutral?

(a) 0.000259 M HClO₄

(b) 0.21 M NaOH

(c) 0.000071 M Ba(OH)₂

(d) 2.5 M KOH

5. What is the [H⁺] and [OH^–] in each of the following at 25 ^oC? Are the solutions acidic, basic or neutral?

(a) An aqueous solution at pH 5.67

(b) An aqueous solution at pH 12.67

(c) An aqueous solution at pH = 4.99

(d) An aqueous solution at pH 8.62

6. Explain why a sample of pure water at 40 °C is neutral even though [H₃O⁺] = 1.7 x 10⁻⁷M. K_w is 2.9 x 10⁻¹⁴ at 40 °C.

Answer(s): In a neutral solution [H₃O⁺] = [OH⁻]. At 40 °C, [H₃O⁺] = [OH⁻] = (2.910⁻¹⁴)^1/2 = 1.7 x 10⁻⁷.

7. What are the hydronium and hydroxide ion concentrations in a solution whose pH is 6.52?

Answer(s): [H₃O⁺] = 3.0 x 10⁻⁷M; [OH⁻] = 3.3x 10⁻⁸M

8. The hydronium ion concentration in a sample of rainwater is found to be 1.7 x 10⁻⁶M at 25 °C. What is the concentration of hydroxide ions in the rainwater?

9. The hydroxide ion concentration in household ammonia is 3.2 x 10⁻³M at 25 °C. What is the concentration of hydronium ions in the solution?

Answer(s): [OH⁻] = 3.1 x 10⁻¹²M

10. The ionization constant for water (K_w) is 2.9 x 10⁻¹⁴ at 40 °C. Calculate [H₃O⁺], [OH⁻], pH, and pOH for pure water at 40 °C.

11. The ionization constant for water (K_w) is 9.311 x 10⁻¹⁴ at 60 °C. Calculate [H₃O⁺], [OH⁻], pH, and pOH for pure water at 60 °C.

Glossary

acidic: a solution in which [H₃O⁺] > [OH⁻]

basic: a solution in which [H₃O⁺] < [OH⁻]

neutral: describes a solution in which [H₃O⁺] = [OH⁻]

pH: logarithmic measure of the concentration of hydronium ions in a solution

pOH: logarithmic measure of the concentration of hydroxide ions in a solution

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Calculation of pH from [H3O+]

Check Your Learning

Calculation of Hydronium Ion Concentration from pH

Check Your Learning

Calculation of pOH

Check Your Learning

How Sciences Interconnect – Environmental Science

Acid Rain

Ocean Acidification:

Glossary

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Calculation of pH from [H₃O⁺]