Calculating pH

[Jessica Cruz 2C]

How can I calculates pH and how would I know which solutions are more acidic or basic? Is there a difference when calculating [H^+] versus [OH^-]?

[Isaiah_2B]

If you know the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution, you can can calculate the pH by simply taking the negative logarithm --> pH = -log([H+]). This pH allows you whether there is more H+ or OH- concentration based on the numerical value of pH. Typically, acidic solutions are lower than 7 and alkaline (basic) solutions are higher than 7 in pH.