Why is lower pH more acidic?

1 Answer
anor277
Jun 21, 2016

Because of the very definition of #pH#;

#pH# #=# #-log_10[H_3O^+]#

Explanation:

See this old answer.

Because of the way the #p# function is defined, we take the negative logarithm. Concentrated hydrochloric acid (36% w/w) is approx. #10*mol*L^-1#. Given the definition, #pH=-1# for this solution, because #log_(10)10=1#.

Remember, when I write #log_aB=c#, I ask to what power I raise the base #a# to get #B#, here #a^c=B#. Can you tell me the values of #log_(10)100#, #log_(10)1,000#, #log_(10)1,000,000#? The values are simple whole numbers.

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