How is pH calculated?

pH is calculated as the negative logarithm of hydrogen ion concentration, which is represented mathematically as pH = -log[H⁺]. This formula reflects how acidic or basic a solution is based on the concentration of hydrogen ions present. A lower pH value indicates a higher concentration of hydrogen ions and, consequently, a more acidic solution, while a higher pH value corresponds to a lower concentration of hydrogen ions and a more basic solution. Thus, understanding the relationship between hydrogen ion concentration and pH is foundational in acid-base chemistry, making this method of calculation essential for characterizing the acidity or basicity of solutions.