Question

What does the p in pH and pOH stand for?

a) -logarithm[x]
b) Square root of x
c) x raised to the power of -1
d) x divided by 2

Answer 1

The 'p' in pH and pOH stands for the negative logarithm of ion concentration. pH refers to the hydronium ion concentration, while pOH refers to the hydroxide ion concentration. Their relation is pH + pOH = 14.

Step-by-step explanation:

The p in pH and pOH stands for the negative logarithm (base 10) of the concentration of ions in a solution. Specifically, pH is the negative logarithm of the hydronium ion concentration [H3O+], and pOH is the negative logarithm of the hydroxide ion concentration [OH-]. The relationship between pH and pOH is given by the equation pH + pOH = 14. For example, if you know the pOH of a solution is 9.3, you would calculate the pH by subtracting pOH from 14, leading to a pH of 4.7.