What is pH and its uses?

What is pH and its uses?

pH, quantitative measure of the acidity or basicity of aqueous or other liquid solutions. The term, widely used in chemistry, biology, and agronomy, translates the values of the concentration of the hydrogen ion—which ordinarily ranges between about 1 and 10−14 gram-equivalents per litre—into numbers between 0 and 14.

How does pH affect substances?

High concentrations of hydrogen ions yield a low pH (acidic substances), whereas low levels of hydrogen ions result in a high pH (basic substances). The overall concentration of hydrogen ions is inversely related to its pH and can be measured on the pH scale (Figure 1).

How does pH relate to real life?

pH plays a very important role in our everyday life. 1. In our digestive system :Hydrochloric acid produced in our stomach helps the digestion of food without causing any harm to the stomach. But when the amount of the acid goes beyond a certain limit due to indigestion, pain and irritation are created in the stomach.

Why is knowing the pH of a substance important?

pH is an important quantity that reflects the chemical conditions of a solution. The pH can control the availability of nutrients, biological functions, microbial activity, and the behavior of chemicals.

What does pH stand for in chemistry?

potential hydrogen
The abbreviation pH stands for potential hydrogen, and it tells us how much hydrogen is in liquids—and how active the hydrogen ion is.

What can you explain about the chemical composition of the solution based on its pH?

The pH of a solution is a measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions in the solution. A solution with a high number of hydrogen ions is acidic and has a low pH value. A solution with a high number of hydroxide ions is basic and has a high pH value. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14, with a pH of 7 being neutral.

What does the pH indicate?

pH is a measure of how acidic/basic water is. The range goes from 0 – 14, with 7 being neutral. pHs of less than 7 indicate acidity, whereas a pH of greater than 7 indicates a base. pH is really a measure of the relative amount of free hydrogen and hydroxyl ions in the water. pH is reported in “logarithmic units”.

Why is pH important in biology?

pH is an important factor for the biological system, as it maintains the structure and activity of macromolecules (nucleic acids, proteins, lipids, and more). Extreme or high pH alters or denatures the enzymes and disrupts their functions.

What is the importance of pH in everyday life explain with the help of an example?

pH is very important in our digestive system. In the stomach, hydrochloric acid is secreted as food enters the stomach. It turns the pH of the stomach between 1 and 3. This pH is important for the activation of the enzyme pepsin, which helps in the digestion of protein in food.

How do scientists use pH?

The pH scale measures whether there is more hydronium or hydroxide in a solution. In other words, it tells us how basic or acidic the solution is. A lower pH means something is more acidic, also known as a stronger acid. A higher pH means it is more alkaline or a stronger base.

Why is pH important in pharmaceutical industry?

Science and Technology for the Hospital Pharmacist. In pharmacy practice, pH is a critical variable and a basic understanding of its principles and measurement is important. It is vitally important to understand pH and its influence on drug solubility, stability, and absorption. This is a neutral or pH 7.0 solution.

What does the pH in the pH scale refer to?

pH is a measure of how acidic/basic water is. The range goes from 0 – 14, with 7 being neutral. pHs of less than 7 indicate acidity, whereas a pH of greater than 7 indicates a base. Each number represents a 10-fold change in the acidity/basicness of the water.