What is the pH range for acids? For bases?

1 Answer
SCooke
Aug 14, 2017

Acids: 1-6
Bases: 8-14
Neutral: 7
All values in whole integers, real values may be continuous.

Explanation:

The definition of pH is from the auto-dissociation of water, with an equal number of #OH^-# and #H^+# ions. This is set to 14, and the definition of pH is #pH = -log[H^+]# where [#H^+]# is the molar concentration of the hydrogen ion.

Similarly pOH can be written as #pOH = -log[OH^-]# .

At equilibrium, [#H^+] = [OH^-]#, and therefore
#pH = pOH = 7#

Any #pH# less than 7 is an "acidic" solution - containing more
[#H^+] than [OH^-]#.

Any #pH# more than 7 is a "basic" solution - containing less
[#H^+] than [OH^-]#.

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