The potential of hydrogen, commonly known as pH, is one of the fundamental concepts in chemistry. Its crucial role is determined by the significant impact it can have on both natural and artificial environments and their inhabitants.
Read this article to learn more about the concept of pH and its practical applications.
What is the pH scale?
The logarithmic pH scale ranges from 0 to 14 and is intended to represent the concentration of hydrogen ions (H) in a solution.
A pH of 7 defines a neutral solution containing equal amounts of H and hydroxide ions (OH-). Acidic environments are characterized by higher concentrations of hydrogen ions represented by a pH below 7, while a pH above 7 denotes alkaline or basic solutions in which hydroxide ions are more prevalent.
Why is pH important?
The pH scale helps to understand the concentration of hydrogen and hydroxide ions in the environment, which in turn are important for chemical reactions, both those that determine biological processes and those that underlie interactions in the environment.
For example, proteins and enzymes in living organisms require certain pH levels to function properly, while insufficient pH can lead to serious health complications. In the natural environment, on the other hand, pH can affect the availability of nutrients that are essential to the health of the entire ecosystem.
At the same time, contact with strongly acidic or alkaline solutions can have drastic effects on both living organisms and non-living matter.
Practical applications of the pH value
The concept of pH is applied virtually everywhere. At home, you use cleaning products with certain pH levels required for their effectiveness, while your cosmetics and hygiene products also have a certain pH level to avoid skin irritation.
Aquatic ecosystems, whether your home aquarium or a wild ecosystem, must have a specific pH of the water to ensure the health of the creatures that live there. The same is true for gardens and farms, where soil pH can also affect plants. A pH plays a key role in the medical field too.
Industrial processes are another example of an area that depends heavily on pH.
How can you measure the pH value?
Depending on the scenario, you can use common devices such as pH indicator paper, pH metres, universal indicators, or pH electrodes to measure a pH.
For example, if you want to determine the pH of an aquarium, you can use a pH metre or a pH test kit. The first one is an electronic device for precise pH measurement, which can be achieved due to a sensitive glass electrode as well as a reference electrode. These must be immersed in the water to measure the pH.
With a pH test kit, the user can determine the pH by chemical reactions between reagents and an aquarium water sample that cause colour changes that determine the pH.
Conclusion
The ratio between hydrogen and hydroxide ions can affect the well-being of living organisms and entire ecosystems, while many industrial processes can be compromised if a specific pH range is not maintained.
For more informations, visit: https://aquaforest.eu/en/articles/high-ph/