Does the presence of an acid in a water solution affect the pH of the solution?

1 Answer
Nov 20, 2017

My word.....

Explanation:

By definition, #pH-="pouvoir hydrogene"#, i.e. #"power of hydrogen"# is equal to #-log_10[H_3O^+]#.

Strong acids gives low to negative #pH# values, depending on the concentration of the acid, and the inherent acid strength. Weaker acids give #pH<7#...

Strong acids protonate the water solvent and give solutions that are stoichiometric in #H_3O^+#...

#HCl(aq) +H_2O(l) rarr H_3O^+ + Cl^-#

A weaker acid will not give such a precipitous drop in #pH#, however, the #pH# will drop somewhat from #7#...the #pH# of #1.0*mol*L^-1# acetic acid is #2.37#.........