pH Calculator

With this pH calculator, you can determine the pH of a solution in a few ways. It can convert pH to H⁺, as well as calculate pH from the ionization constant and concentration. The pH value is an essential factor in chemistry, medicine, and daily life. Read the text below to find out what is the pH scale and the pH formula. In the end, we will also explain how to calculate pH with an easy step-by-step solution.

Our calculator may ask you for the concentration of the solution. If you don't know, you can calculate it using our concentration calculator. You can also use the solution dilution calculator to calculate the concentration of ions in a diluted solution.

A pH calculator is an invaluable educational tool, helping students and teachers alike. So, let's dive in and see how this pH calculator can simplify your life in a few simple steps.

The first thing you must decide is how to calculate the pH. We'll cover the steps involved in each option:

From the concentration of an acid:

1. You are provided with a list of some common acids. Please choose one of them.

2. Next, enter the concentration in molar units.

3. The tool will immediately determine the pH and concentration of hydrogen ions.

4. If you cannot find your acid in the list of options, choose Custom.

   • Now, you have to input your acid's ionization constant (Ka) value along with the concentration.

5. The tool will calculate the pH and H⁺ values based on the provided information.

From the concentration of a base:

1. Calculating the pH of a base is the same as for the acid mentioned above.

2. The only difference is when you don't find the base of your choice in the list of options and you choose to enter a custom base, you will enter the ionization constant (Kb) of a base instead of Ka.

3. The tool will determine the pH and H⁺ values instantly.

From the mass and volume of an acid:

1. Choose the acid of your liking from the list of 22 common acids.

2. Enter the weight of the solid compound. The default unit is grams, but you may select another mass unit from the list per your requirement. (Make sure to change the unit before inputting the value; otherwise, it will only change your input to the later selected unit).

3. Lastly, input the total volume of the solution.

4. The result is displayed as pH and H⁺.

5. You also have the option to choose custom if your acid is not on the list.

   • The additional input required in such a case is the acid ionization constant Ka.

6. The pH and H⁺ are calculated based on the provided information.

From the mass and volume of a base:

1. In this situation, the pH calculation for base is the same as for acid, as mentioned above.
2. The only exception is that all the data you input would be for your required base.

From ion concentration:

1. pH can be calculated from ion concentration using either of the three variables.

   a. Concentration of hydrogen ions [H⁺];
   b. pOH value; and
   c. Concentration of hydroxide ions [OH^-].

2. You may input any one of them, and the remaining will be calculated, along with the result: the pH value.

For the first four methods, click the related numbers section to show the pOH value, the concentration of hydroxide ions [OH^-], and the pKa.

The pH scale (pH) is a numeric scale used to define how acidic or basic an aqueous solution is. It commonly ranges between 0 and 14 but can go beyond these values if sufficiently acidic/basic. The pH value is logarithmically and is inversely related to the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution. The pH to H⁺ formula that represents this relation is:

The solution is acidic if its pH is less than 7. If the pH is higher, the solution is basic (also referred to as alkaline). Solutions with a pH that is equal to 7 are neutral.

Apart from the mathematical way of determining pH, you can also use pH indicators. The most universally used pH test is the litmus paper. It changes its color according to the pH of the solution in which it was dipped. These colors often inspire colorful pH scales:

The pH in our bodies is close to neutral. For example, the pH of blood should be around 7.4. The only exception is the stomach, where stomach acids can even reach a pH of 1.

Molecules can have a pH at which they are free of a negative charge. That is what our isoelectric point calculator determines.

Three different theories define acid and base:

• According to the Arrhenius theory, in an aqueous solution, an acid is a substance able to donate hydrogen ions, while a base donates hydroxide ions.
• Brønsted–Lowry theory says that acid can donate protons while a base can accept them.
• Lewis theory states that an acid is something that can accept electron pairs. Analogously, a base donates electron pairs.

The higher the concentration of hydrogen ions from acid molecules, the lower the pH of the solution and, consequently, the higher its acidity. The reverse is true for hydroxide ions and bases. The higher the concentration of hydroxide ions from base molecules, the higher the pH of the solution and, consequently, the higher its basicity.

We can describe the reaction of an acid, HA, in water as:

with the acid ionization constant:

A similar chemical reaction between base BOH and water looks like this:

The next equation gives the base ionization constant for the above formula:

If you want to know more about chemical equilibrium constants, check out the equilibrium constant calculator or the reaction quotient calculator.

pH is defined as the negative of the base-ten logarithm of the molar concentration of hydrogen ions present in the solution. The unit for the concentration of hydrogen ions is moles per liter. To determine pH, you can use this pH to H⁺ formula:

If you already know pH but want to calculate the concentration of ions, use this transformed pH equation:

There also exists a pOH scale - which is less popular than the pH scale. pOH is the negative of the logarithm of the hydroxide ion concentration:

or:

pH and pOH are related to one another by this pOH and pH equation:

Here are the steps to calculate the pH of a solution:

1. Let's assume that the concentration of hydrogen ions is equal to 0.0001 mol/L.

2. Calculate pH by using the pH to H⁺ formula:

3. Now, you can also easily determine pOH and a concentration of hydroxide ions using the formulas:

Of course, you don't have to perform all of these calculations by hand! Choose the option to determine pH with ion concentration in the calculator, and type in any of these four values! Then, watch as the tool does all the work for you!

1. Alternatively, you can find a chemical from the lists (of acids or bases). Let's say you want to know how to find the pH of formic acid – HCOOH. Its Ka is 0.00018.
2. Choose the concentration of the chemical. Let's assume that it's equal to 0.1 mol/L.
3. To find a concentration of H⁺ ions, you have to...:

where:

Here $c$ is the molar concentration of the solution, and $x$ is equal to the molar concentration of H⁺.

For 0.1 M HCOOH:

Now you know how to calculate pH using pH equations. If you find these calculations time-consuming, feel free to use our pH calculator. Select your chemical and its concentration, and watch it do all the work for you.

Biochemists, environmental scientists, and materials scientists frequently need to calculate or adjust pH values for their research. Realizing this need, I thought a pH calculator would speed up these processes, allowing efficient experimentation.

I'm Julia Żuławińska, the brains behind this efficient pH calculator, and I stand out as an exemplary figure in the scientific community, particularly within Biophysics and Molecular Biotechnology. My work embodies an intersection of science and sustainability, significantly underscoring my role as a forward-thinking researcher poised to contribute to ecological conservation and biotechnological innovation.

It is possible to determine pollution sources and the health of ecosystems by monitoring the pH of natural water bodies. Environmental scientists could use pH calculators to assess water quality instantly.

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