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Chem Notebook COmplete

By: Enmanuel Garrido

By: Enmanuel Garrido

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Let's discuss significant figures and pH.<br />

Another sample problem: Calculate the pH of a solution in which the [H3O + ] is 1.20 x 10¯3 M.<br />

For the solution, we have:<br />

pH = - log 1.20 x 10¯3<br />

This problem can be done very easily using your calculator. However, be warned about putting<br />

numbers into the calculator.<br />

So you enter (-), log, 1.20, X10 n , (-), 3, enter.<br />

The answer, to the proper number of significant digits is: 2.921.<br />

III. Significant Figures in pH<br />

Here is the example problem: Calculate the pH of a solution where the [H + ] is 0.00100 M. (This could<br />

also be a pOH problem. The point being made is the same.)<br />

OK, you say, that's pretty easy, the answer is 3. After all, 0.00100 is 10¯3 and the negative log of 10¯3<br />

is 3.<br />

You would be graded wrong!! Why? Because the pH is not written to reflect the number of significant<br />

figures in the concentration.<br />

Notice that there are three sig figs in 0.00100. (Hopefully you remember significant figures, since you<br />

probably studied them months ago before getting to acid base stuff. THEY ARE STILL IMPORTANT!)<br />

So, our pH value should also reflect three significant figures.<br />

However, there is a special rule to remember with pH (and pOH) values. The whole number portion<br />

DOES NOT COUNT when figuring out how many digits to write down.<br />

Let's phrase that another way: in a pH (and a pOH), the only place where significant figures are<br />

contained is in the decimal portion.<br />

So, the correct answer to the above problem is 3.000. Three sig figs and they are all in the decimal<br />

portion, NOT (I repeat NOT) in the whole number portion.<br />

Practice Problems<br />

Convert each hydrogen ion concentration into a pH. Identify each as an acidic pH or a basic pH.<br />

1. 0.0015<br />

2. 5.0 x 10¯9<br />

3. 1.0<br />

4. 3.27 x 10¯4<br />

5. 1.00 x 10¯12<br />

6. 0.00010

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