Did you know that the pH scale is a measurement of how acidic or basic a substance is? The scale ranges from 0 to 14, with 7 being considered neutral. Substances with a pH below 7 are acidic, while those above 7 are basic. pH is calculated using the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution. The more hydrogen ions present, the lower the pH and the more acidic the solution. Conversely, the higher the concentration of hydroxide ions, the higher the pH and the more basic the solution. The pH scale is logarithmic, meaning that each whole number change represents a tenfold difference in acidity or alkalinity. For example, a solution with a pH of 2 is 10 times more acidic than a solution with a pH of 3. Understanding the pH scale is crucial in various fields of chemistry, including environmental science, medicine, and agriculture. By knowing the pH of a substance, scientists can predict how it will react with other compounds and how it will impact living organisms. Mastering this fundamental concept allows us to better understand and control the chemical reactions that occur in our world.