The key difference between calculated pH and experimental pH is that calculated pH gives the value of pH that is obtained from solving the pH equation, whereas experimental pH gives the value of pH of a given sample which is obtained through directly measuring it using a pH meter.
Calculated pH is the value of pH that is calculated using the pH equation. Experimental pH is the value of pH that is determined using a pH meter by measuring directly using a sample.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is pH
3. What is Calculated pH
4. What is Experimental pH
5. Calculated pH vs Experimental pH in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Calculated pH and Experimental pH
What is pH?
The term pH can be described as the “potential of hydrogen.” It is a scale that we can use to specify the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution according to the concentration of hydronium ions in that solution. Usually, acidic solutions have a lower value for pH, while a basic solution has a high value. There is a scale named pH scale that goes from 1 to 14. It is helpful in determining the acidity or basicity where the neutral pH value is pH 7. This scale is logarithmic, and it inversely indicates the hydrogen ion concentration in the solution.
Moreover, we can use pH indicators to measure the pH value by making use of their color changes at different pH values. This visual comparison of a test gives a standard color in a chart that indicates the pH value of that solution. We can predict the nearest whole number of pH values using these indicators. Furthermore, we can get more precise readings if we can use a spectrophotometer.
What is Calculated pH?
Calculated pH is the value of pH that is calculated using the pH equation. In order to calculate the pH value of the desired sample, we need to know the concentration of the hydronium ion (given in moles per liter unit, which is used as the unit of measurement for molarity). The equation that we can use for the calculation of pH value is as follows:
pH = -log[H3O+]
What is Experimental pH?
Experimental pH is the value of pH that is determined using a pH meter by measuring directly using a sample. When determining the pH value of a sample given using an experimental method, we need to use different equipment such as beakers, ring stand, wire gauze, Bunsen burner, dropper pipe, stirring rod, 5wash bottles, laboratory pH meter, etc. Moreover, we need to use a pH indicator for the detection of the correct pH value. ++
What is the Difference Between Calculated pH and Experimental pH?
Calculated pH is the value of pH that is calculated using the pH equation. Experimental pH is the value of pH that is determined using a pH meter by measuring directly using a sample. The key difference between calculated pH and experimental pH is that calculated pH gives the value of pH that is obtained from solving the pH equation, whereas experimental pH gives the value of pH of a given sample which is obtained through directly measuring it using a pH meter.
Below is a summary of the difference between calculated pH and experimental pH in tabular form.
Summary – Calculated pH vs Experimental pH
pH value is the quantitative measure of the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution or other liquid solution. The key difference between calculated pH and experimental pH is that calculated pH gives the value of pH that is obtained from solving the pH equation, whereas experimental pH gives the value of pH of a given sample which is obtained through directly measuring it using a pH meter.
Reference:
1. “8: Acid, Bases and Ph (Experiment).” Chemistry LibreTexts, Libretexts, 22 Sept. 2021.
Image Courtesy:
1. “PH Scale- Acidic vs. Basic (Alkaline)” By Heinrich-Boll-Stiftung – (CC BY-SA 2.0) via Commons Wikimedia