The pH of a sulphuric acid solution, as calculated in the provided reference, is 0.96.
Understanding pH and Sulphuric Acid
Sulphuric acid ($\text{H}_2\text{SO}_4$) is a strong acid. When dissolved in water, it dissociates, releasing hydrogen ions ($\text{H}^+$). The concentration of these hydrogen ions determines the acidity of the solution, which is measured using the pH scale. A lower pH value indicates a higher acidity.
It's important to note that the pH of a sulphuric acid solution is not a single fixed value; it depends directly on the concentration of the acid in the water. More concentrated solutions are more acidic and therefore have a lower pH.
Calculation from the Reference
The provided reference gives a specific calculation for the pH of a sulphuric acid solution:
- It mentions a total hydrogen ion concentration of 0.10845 mol dm-3.
- Using a sensible number of significant figures, this concentration is given as 0.109 mol dm-3.
- Based on this specific hydrogen ion concentration (0.109 mol dm-3), the reference states that the calculation gives a pH of 0.96.
This calculation likely accounts for the partial dissociation of the second acidic proton of sulphuric acid, which is represented by the 'x' value (8.45 x 10-3 mol dm-3) mentioned in the reference, added to the initial dissociation of the first proton.
Key Values from the Reference
- Total Hydrogen Ion Concentration: 0.109 mol dm-3 (using significant figures)
- Calculated pH: 0.96
This calculated value of 0.96 represents the acidity level for a sulphuric acid solution resulting in the specified hydrogen ion concentration according to the method described in the reference.
