Difference between degree of ionisation and pH scale (1 Viewer)

[lolmb]

do both degree of ionisation and the pH scale provide measures of the strength of an acid?

If not could you tell me what each represent and measure?

thanks

 

[Silly Sausage]

Of the two, only the degree of ionisation provides the measurements of acid strength.

 

[dan964]

and pH is a concentration measure (logarithmic) of H+

 

[happypeople]

pH = a measure of how concentrated in hydrogen ions a particular acid is (logarithmic scale) and does not provide a measure of an acid's strength.

For example, an acid with a pH of 3 will have a hydrogen ion concentration of 10^(-3) mol/L, or 0.001 mol/L (using the fact that log(hydrogen ion concentration) = pH)

Degree of ionisation = how much of available hydrogen ions present in the acid is actually ionised in solution, and thus does provide a measure if the strength of an acid (and does not provide a measure of concentration).

Higher degree of ionisation = higher strength of acid

Hope this helps! Good luck with your studies!