What happens when pH negative?

If your acid solution is stronger than 1N, then you will get a pH less than 0 (a negative pH). It’s possible. If the molarity of hydrogen ions is greater than 1, you’ll have a negative value of pH. For example, you might expect a 12 M HCl solution to have a pH of -log(12) = -1.08.

What is the lowest pH possible?

Since pH is defined as minus the logarithm of a number whose value is between 0 and 1, theoretically, the lowest value of pH is zero (0), which means a hydrogen ion activity of 1, which means basically that hydrogen ions (i.e. protons) are all that is present.

Is pH positive or negative?

The pH is calculated as the negative of the base 10 logarithm of this concentration. The log10 of 1 × 10–7 is –7.0, and the negative of this number (indicated by the “p” of “pH”) yields a pH of 7.0, which is also known as neutral pH.

Is low pH positive or negative?

Since the pH is the negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration, low pH numbers, e.g. pH 6.2, indicate relatively high hydrogen ion concentrations, i.e. an acidic solution. High pH numbers, e.g. pH 7.8, represent lower hydrogen ion concentrations, i.e. alkaline solutions.

Why is pH a negative log?

The pH is defined as the negative log10 of the hydrogen ion concentration expressed in mol/L. A negative logarithmic scale is used because the numbers are all less than 1, and vary over a wide range. High pH numbers, e.g. pH 7.8, represent lower hydrogen ion concentrations, i.e. alkaline solutions. …

Is pH Zero Possible?

The pH value can be less than 0 for very strong acids, or greater than 14 for very strong bases. The pH scale is traceable to a set of standard solutions whose pH is established by international agreement.

Can a pH be above 14?

But the scale does not have fixed limits, so it is indeed possible to have a pH above 14 or below zero. For example, concentrated hydrochloric acid can have a pH of around -1, while sodium hydroxide solution can have a pH as high as 15.

Can pH be a decimal?

A pH to one decimal place (like 5.2) corresponds to a concentration known to one significant figure. A pH to two decimal places (like 5.22) corresponds to a concentration known to two significant figures. The part of the pH to the left of the decimal point has no effect on significant figures.

What does negative log mean?

A negative logarithm means how many times to divide by the number. We can have just one divide: Example: What is log8(0.125)? Well, 1 ÷ 8 = 0.125, So log8(0.125) = −1.

Can there be a negative in a log?

In other words, the only numbers you can plug into a log function are positive numbers. Negative numbers, and the number 0, aren’t acceptable arguments to plug into a logarithm, but why? The reason has more to do with the base of the logarithm than with the argument of the logarithm.

Is pH greater than 14 possible?

It describes how many hydrogen ions (protons) are present in a solution: the higher the pH, the lower the hydrogen ion concentration, and vice versa. But the scale does not have fixed limits, so it is indeed possible to have a pH above 14 or below zero.

Can you have pH of 0?