What kind of scale is the pH scale? What values are considered acidic, neutral, and basic?

In chemistry, substances are often characterized based on their acidity or basicity, which can be thought of as the substance's ability to donate or accept protons (H⁺ ions) in a solution.

Substances that release protons and increase the concentration of H⁺ ions in a solution are acids. Common acids like lemon juice or vinegar taste sour and can be corrosive. On the other hand, substances that accept protons and decrease the concentration of H⁺ ions are bases (also known as alkalis). These substances, like baking soda or soap, often feel slippery to the touch and taste bitter.

The reaction between acids and bases is called neutralization, which typically results in the formation of water and a salt. In a neutral solution, the concentrations of H⁺ ions and hydroxide ions (OH^-) are equal, creating a balanced state with no excess acidity or basicity. The balance between acidic and basic properties is crucial to many biological and environmental processes.

The pH scale is a logarithmic scale used for quantifying the acidity or basicity of solutions. This means that each unit change in pH actually represents a tenfold change in H⁺ ion concentration. Consequently, a pH of 3 indicates an acid 10 times stronger than a pH of 4.

Because the pH scale is logarithmic, it compresses the wide range of H⁺ ion concentrations into a more manageable scale, from 0 to 14. In formula terms, the pH is calculated as the negative logarithm of the H⁺ ion concentration:
\( pH = -\log[H^+] \)

For example, a solution with a H⁺ ion concentration of 0.01 moles per liter would have a pH of 2. This logarithmic relationship allows for a more intuitive understanding of the relative acidity or basicity between different substances.

The pH scale provides a numerical representation of a solution's acidity or basicity, with specific pH values indicating particular characteristics:

• Substances with a pH less than 7 are acidic, with 0 being the most acidic.
• A pH of 7 represents a neutral solution, like pure water.
• Substances with a pH greater than 7 are basic (alkaline), up to 14, which is the most basic.

Regularly testing pH is important in many areas such as agriculture to ensure soil quality, in medicine to maintain the body's pH balance, and in water treatment processes.

Different organisms and processes require specific pH levels. For instance, human blood has a tightly controlled pH around 7.4, slightly basic, as even small deviations can have significant health effects. The wide array of pH values across substances and the precise conditions required for certain reactions underscore the importance of accurately measuring and understanding pH.