pH scale limitations

[305561744]

Can something have a pH above 14? How would that affect calculations?

[Tawny Vu 1A]

Technically speaking, it can go above 14, but commonly we do not have to deal with this. It only ranges from 0 to 14 in most cases and is that way because of the use of -log to make the number easier to work with and to differentiate between acids and bases.

[Jessica Tam 3H]

Hi,
For the scale we use, I believe it refers to the temperature 25 degrees Celsius and the scale of 0 to 14 for pH is the standard. There are possibilities where the pH can go below 0 for very strong acids or above 14 for very strong bases. As far as I know, we would not have to worry about calculations outside of the range for the course.

[MaiVyDang2I]

I think the textbook said that pH can be smaller than 0 and bigger than 14, but it won't appear in our course.

[sadiebrebes]

Can something have a pH above 14? How would that affect calculations?

Super acids can have a ph above 14. They have extremely great proton donating abilities.

[Sasha Gladkikh 2A]

Hi,

Dr. Lavelle stated in the 01/10 lecture that the pH scale from 0 to 14 characterizes most acids and bases. However, super acids and super bases, which have pH values beyond the conventional 0 to 14 scale, are not covered in this course.

For your reference, a super acid contains a hydronium (H₃O⁺) concentration greater than 1 M, resulting in a negative pH value. Conversely, a super base contains a hydroxide (OH^-) concentration greater than 1 M, resulting a pH value above 14.

[Divya Mehta 2K]

While there are solutions that are capable of being superacids and superbases that have PH's lower than 0 and higher than 14, the PH scale that encompasses most acids and bases in this course goes from 0-14

[Holly Do 2J]

When we say that the pH scale is between 1-14 we are just generalizing the typical pH we deal with. This meaning that a pH can be above or below this range but they are not seen as much.

[Madison Nguyen 3L]

It is possible to exceed the 14 scale, but it is rare, and the 1-14 encompasses most acids and bases for adequate and accurate measurement.

[Sarah Hong 2K]

It is possible, but for the calculations in this course the pH will be within 0-14.

[Collin Le 3I]

It is possible for the pH of a solution to go beyond 0 and 14, but I believe we only have to deal with pH values within the range from 0 to 14 for this course.

[Eszter Kovacs 1A]

the pH scale doesn't have fixed limits so pH can go above 14 and below 0 too.

[Aaron Kwan 3B]

If a base dissociates in water and leads to a concentration of OH- greater than 1M, calculating the POH through taking the -log leads to a negative number. Then, calculating PH through 14-POH leads to a number greater than 14.

[Hannah Thornton 1F]

Although pH can be smaller than 0 or bigger than 14, this will never appear in our course.

[Talia Tam 3L]

Super bases can have a pH greater than 14, but it is rare.