happamuusasteilla

Happamuusasteilla, often referred to as pH, is a scientific scale used to specify the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. The scale ranges from 0 to 14, with a pH of 7 being neutral. Solutions with a pH less than 7 are considered acidic, and their acidity increases as the pH value decreases. Conversely, solutions with a pH greater than 7 are considered alkaline or basic, and their alkalinity increases as the pH value increases.

The pH scale is logarithmic, meaning that each whole number change on the scale represents a tenfold change in acidity or alkalinity. For instance, a solution with a pH of 3 is ten times more acidic than a solution with a pH of 4, and a hundred times more acidic than a solution with a pH of 5.

pH is determined by the concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) in a solution. A higher concentration of hydrogen ions results in a lower pH, indicating a more acidic solution. Conversely, a lower concentration of hydrogen ions, or a higher concentration of hydroxide ions (OH-), leads to a higher pH, indicating a more alkaline solution.

The concept of pH was introduced by Danish chemist Søren Peder Lauritz Sørensen in 1909. It is a fundamental concept in chemistry and plays a crucial role in various fields, including biology, environmental science, and medicine. For example, the pH of blood is tightly regulated to maintain physiological functions, and the pH of soil affects plant growth. Many everyday substances also have specific pH values, such as lemon juice (acidic) and baking soda solution (alkaline).