pH and pKa

[Emily Ding 1J]

Hi, I was a bit confused about why if pH is lower than pKa, the solution is neutral and if pH is higher, it's charged. If someone could provide a conceptual explanation that'd be so helpful!

[Saumya Tawakley 1E]

I think about it like if pH is less than pKa, then the environment is already very acidic so the substance remains in its protonated (or neutral) form. Whereas if the pH is higher than the pKa, then the substance protonates in order to lower the pH and make it more acidic to match the pKa. I'm not sure if that thinking is right though so it would be helpful if someone confirms!

[Ashley Presnell 1C]

Is pH of the solution is lower than the pKa it means the solution is more acidic than the weak acid so it will not dissociate. But when the pKa is lower than the pH the acid is more acidic than the solution and will then dissociate.