The pH scale is a measurement used in chemistry. It denotes the acidity or basicity of a solution or component. pH is measured against water. All other liquids, substances, or aqueous solutions are measured against the acidity or base of the water. The range of pH is from zero to fourteen with 7 being neutral. pH less than 7 is indication of acidity while pH more than 7 is indication of base. A water solution can be said to be acidic when it contains a greater number of hydrogen ions while more hydroxyl ions indicate that the water is basic.
pH Scale
The pH helps in determining the solubility as well as biological availability which in some ways are connected to the study of acids and bases. That is why pH scales acids and bases are so important. As already discussed, the bases or alkaline substances have a pH scale of above 7 to 14 while acids have a pH scale of below 7 to 0. For example, an acid of 0 pH is battery acid. A base of 14 pH is drain cleaner and a pH of 7 is blood or normal water.
pH Scales Acids and Bases
The pH meters come in various sizes and are very easy to use and portable. Those substances having pH higher than 7 are bases and those lower than 7 are acidic. The pH scales are used for determining how acidic or how alkaline a given substance or a solution is. The pH meter needs to be calibrated in pure water with a pH of 7 before use. Excessive low or high pH of water can be detrimental in many regards and that is why pH scale acids and bases are used. Low pH water on pH scales acids and bases can severely corrode other materials.
pH Scale Chart
The pH scale Chart can be a very good visual tool to remember the various acidity and alkalinity of substances. It is a good way of storing and accessing easy information quickly and effortlessly. The scale of pH is given in the following table:
pH = 0 | Battery acid | Highly Acidic |
pH = 1 | Hydrochloric Acid | Highly Acidic |
pH = 2 | Vinegar | Acidic |
pH = 3 | Orange Juice | Acidic |
pH = 4 | Tomato juice | Less Acidic |
pH = 5 | Black Coffee | Less Acidic |
pH = 6 | Urine | Least Acidic |
pH = 7 | Pure Water | Neutral |
pH = 8 | Sea Water | Alkaline |
pH = 9 | Baking Soda | Alkaline |
pH = 10 | Magnesia Milk | Alkaline |
pH = 11 | Ammonia Solution | Very Alkaline |
pH = 12 | Soapy Water | Very Alkaline |
pH = 13 | Bleach | Most Alkaline |
pH = 14 | Drain Cleaner | Most Alkaline |
pH Scale Examples (0-14)
pH scale examples 0-14 are provided in the following section in descending order starting from 0 ending at 14:
- Battery Acid (0)
- Concentrated sulphuric acid (1)
- Lemon Juice (2)
- Soda (3)
- Tomato Juice (4)
- Black Coffee (5)
- Milk (6)
- Pure water (7)
- Eggs (8)
- Baking soda (9)
- Salt Lake (10)
- Ammonia solution (11)
- Soapy water (12)
- Oven Cleaner (13)
- Drain Cleaner (14)
Conclusion
pH is also a logarithm that measures the concentration of hydrogen ions and hydroxyl ions in a solution. The pH is an extremely important instrument in chemistry for measuring the chemical changes occurring in water. pH Scales acids and bases are a common topic of chemistry.