How is pH 10 expressed in moles per liter?

The correct expression of pH 10 in moles per liter relates directly to the definition of pH and the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution. The pH scale is a logarithmic scale used to specify the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. It is calculated as the negative logarithm (base 10) of the hydrogen ion concentration in moles per liter:

pH = -log[H⁺]

When the pH is 10, this indicates that the concentration of hydrogen ions is relatively low. To find the concentration of H⁺ ions corresponding to a pH of 10, you can rearrange the formula to:

[H⁺] = 10^(-pH)

Thus, for pH 10, the calculation is:

[H⁺] = 10^(-10)

This results in a concentration of 0.0000000001 moles per liter, which is equivalent to 1.0 x 10^-10.

Understanding that higher pH levels represent lower concentrations of hydrogen ions is essential for interpreting pH values accurately. Lower concentrations of H⁺ mean the solution is more basic, and since pH is logarithmic, each whole number change