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pH logarithm's

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jadeymodel | 23:24 Sat 02nd May 2009 | Science
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Needing a braniacs help!

I understand slightly how to calculate a whole numbers pH value e.g 0.00000001 (10^7) pH-7.

However how do you calculate the non whole numbered values?

I have looked online & it's still very confusing.

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You just use the logarithm to base 10.
If a number can be written as 1.0 x 10^-n, then the pH=n, because -log10(1.0 x 10^-n)=n
Your example is slightly incorrect because 0.00000001= 1.0 x 10^-8 (notice the minus sign) and so the pH=-log10(10^-8)=8
For other values which are not powers of 10 you just take the logarithm and then change the sign.
so for 0.21 you get pH=-log10(0.21)= -(0.6777....)=0.6777....
You need a calculator.in these cases.

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