Find the PH [H+] of 6.0x10^-2?

Would the answer just be 1, because the question has 1 sig fig.. Or woulf the answer be 1,22

2 Answers
Mar 8, 2018

pH=1.22pH=1.22

Explanation:

The sig figs are the two digits in the scientific notation, 6.0. When you use logs, however, the sig figs start after the decimal since the whole number isn't an actual value but an increasing or decreasing factor (10^n10n).

Mar 8, 2018

pH=1pH=1

Explanation:

Well, we need to use the pHpH equation here, which states that

pH=-log[H^+]pH=log[H+]

where H^+H+ is the hydrogen ion concentration of the solution in terms of molarity ("M")(M).

I assume we have here 6*10^-26102 hydrogen (H^+)(H+) ions.

So, plugging into the equation, we have

pH=-log(6*10^-2)pH=log(6102)

Using a calculator, this yields:

pH~~1.22pH1.22

Since the answer wants us to convert it to one significant figure, the pHpH will be 11.

:.pH=1