Final answer:
The pH of a 0.5 M H2SO4 solution is 0, because sulfuric acid is a strong acid that completely dissociates in water to give a 1.0 M concentration of H+ ions.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the pH of a 0.5 M H2SO4 solution, we must first recognize that sulfuric acid is a strong acid. Strong acids completely dissociate in water. Since H2SO4 gives two protons (H+), a 0.5 M solution would effectively have a 1.0 M concentration of H+ ions (0.5 M * 2). The pH is calculated using the formula pH = -log[H+].
Calculations: pH = -log(1.0) = 0. Therefore, the pH of a 0.5 M H2SO4 solution is 0.