Question

If you have a strong acid (like HCl) and the molarity is greater than 1 M, you get a negative pH. How is that dealt with?

Answer 1

@Aqua666 @GodBlessYou
Can you help me with this?

Answer 2

I'm not sure. :( I'm sorry

Answer 3

Thanks for trying.

Answer 4

What do you mean, "how is that dealt with?" Are you asking why it's negative?

Answer 5

Yes. If the pH scale is 0 --> 14, how can that be on the scale?

Answer 6

0 to 14 is just the common range, pH can be negative with a strong enough acid, and above 14 for a strong enough base.

Answer 7

Ever heard of concentrated acids and dilute acids? Usually, acids such as Sulphuric acid, HCl and many other acids would be concentrated in nature and would have a liquid state symbol. But we dilute them in order to make them less reactive and that is why you will see acids having a state symbol of aqueous. Perhaps if your question is how you would lower the PH then your answer would be dilution.

Answer 8

Because pH = -log[H+]. If you have 16 M HCl, the pH would be -1.2. It's extremely difficult to measure a negative pH because pH meters usually will not read negative pH. At high concentrations, strong acids don't necessarily dissociate 100% so 16 M HCl may not guarantee 16 M H+ as well therefore pH may be slightly higher than calculated.