How can you find the concentration given only the pH of a solution?

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Enhance your knowledge and skills for the UCF CHM2046 Chemistry Fundamentals II Test 3. Dive into multiple choice questions with explanations and get confident for success in your exam!

To determine the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution from its pH, it is important to understand the relationship defined by the pH scale. The pH of a solution is calculated using the formula:

pH = -log[H⁺]

Where [H⁺] represents the concentration of hydrogen ions in moles per liter. To isolate the concentration from this equation, you rearrange it as follows:

Start with the equation: pH = -log[H⁺]
Multiply both sides by -1: -pH = log[H⁺]
Use the inverse of the logarithmic function to solve for [H⁺]: [H⁺] = 10^(-pH)

This means that to find the concentration of hydrogen ions, you need to take 10 to the power of the negative pH value. This is why the correct method is represented as 10^-pH, which corresponds to the concentration of hydrogen ions in the solution.

In contrast, the other methods provided do not accurately reflect this relationship. Therefore, using 10^-pH is the correct approach when calculating the concentration based on the pH value.