Final answer:
The pH of a solution with a hydrogen ion concentration of 2 x 10⁻⁵ molar is approximately 4.70, which indicates that the solution is acidic.
Step-by-step explanation:
Calculating pH from Hydrogen Ion Concentration
To find the pH of a solution where the concentration of hydrogen ions [H⁰] is 2 x 10⁻⁵ molar, we use the pH formula which is:
pH = -log[H⁰]
Substituting the given concentration into the formula:
pH = -log(2 x 10⁻⁵)
After performing the calculation we get:
pH ≈ 4.70
Since the pH is less than 7, the solution is classified as acidic.