How to Calculate pH: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

pH is a measure of acidity and alkalinity. This comprehensive guide teaches you how to calculate pH step by step, understand the logarithmic scale, and work with acids and bases.

The pH Formula

Where [H⁺] is hydrogen ion concentration in moles per liter. The scale ranges from 0-14, with 7 being neutral.

Calculation Steps

Step 1: Find [H⁺]

For strong acids, [H⁺] equals acid concentration. For bases, find [OH⁻] first, then use Kw = [H⁺][OH⁻] = 10⁻¹⁴.

Step 2: Apply Formula

Take log base 10 of [H⁺], multiply by -1. Example: [H⁺] = 0.01 M, pH = -log(0.01) = 2.