Answer to Question #133195 in Cell Biology for lesley love

Question

Describe how pH and H30+ concentration are related and explain why diluting an acid raises the pH, but diluting a base lowers the PH

Answer 1

$pH + pOH = 14$

$pH = - log[H_3O^+]$

$pOH = - log[OH^-]$

pH of neutral solution is 7. If the pH is less than 7, the solution is acidic and if pH is greater than 7, the solution is alkaline. The lower the pH, the more acidic is the solution and higher the pH, the more basic is the solution. As the concentration of $H_3O^+$ in the solution is decreased 10 times after diluting an acid the pH is increased by one unit. As the concentration of $[OH^-]$ in the solution is decreased 10 times after diluting a base the pH is decreased by one unit.