Calculating pH
To calculate the pH of an aqueous solution you need to know the concentration of the hydronium
ion in moles per liter (molarity). The pH is then calculated using the expression:
pH = - log [H3O+].
Example: Find the pH of a 0.0025 M HCl solution. The HCl is a strong acid and is 100%
ionized in water. The hydronium ion concentration is 0.0025 M. Thus:
pH = - log (0.0025) = - ( - 2.60) = 2.60
Calculating the Hydronium Ion Concentration from pH
The hydronium ion concentration can be found from the pH by the reverse of the mathematical
operation employed to find the pH.
[H3O+] = 10-pH or [H3O+] = antilog (- pH)
Example: What is the hydronium ion concentration in a solution that has a pH of 8.34?
8.34 = - log [H3O+]
- 8.34 = log [H3O+]
[H3O+] = 10-8.34 = 4.57 x 10-9 M
On a calculator, calculate 10-8.34, or "inverse" log ( - 8.34).
Calculating pOH
To calculate the pOH of a solution you need to know the concentration of the hydroxide ion in
moles per liter (molarity). The pOH is then calculated using the expression:
pOH = - log [OH-]
Example: What is the pOH of a solution that has a hydroxide ion concentration of 4.82 x 10-
5 M?
pOH = - log [4.82 x 10-5] = - ( - 4.32) = 4.32
Calculating the Hydroxide Ion Concentration from pOH
The hydroxide ion concentration can be found from the pOH by the reverse mathematical
operation employed to find the pOH.
[OH-] = 10-pOH or [OH-] = antilog ( - pOH)
