Final answer:
The pH of a solution with a hydronium ion concentration of 7.8×10−2 moles/liter is approximately 1.11, indicating that the solution is acidic.
Step-by-step explanation:
Finding the pH of a Solution
The pH of a solution is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity and is calculated using the concentration of hydronium ions (H3O+). To find the pH of a solution with a hydronium ion concentration of 7.8×10−2 moles/liter, we use the formula pH = -log[H3O+]. Plugging in the concentration, we get pH = -log(7.8×10−2). Using a calculator, this comes out to approximately pH = 1.11.
A pH less than 7 indicates that the solution is acidic. Given that the hydronium ion concentration of this solution is higher than the neutral concentration of 1.0×10−7 M in pure water, the solution is indeed acidic. Our calculated pH of 1.11 confirms this.