What is a PH Test?
A pH (potential hydrogen) test measures the acidity or alkalinity of a chemical solution. A neutral solution has a pH value of 7. Alkaline solutions have pH values above 7, and acidic solutions have pH values below 7.
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Features
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The pH test indicates the balance between positively (acid forming) and negatively (alkali forming) charged ions in a solution.
Function
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The pH test is used extensively in chemistry and biology to measure the results of chemical reactions. It has a wide variety of further uses, including in medicine to test various bodily fluids, in horticulture to determine the acidity or alkalinity of soil and thus allow one to predict what plants will flourish there and to test the water of an aquarium to ensure it is safe for particular species of fish.
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History
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Litmus, which is extracted from various lichens, was first used as a simple pH test around 1300 A.D. in Spain.
Interpretation
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Many pH tests display their results through the means of a color scale, with red indicating very acidic and blue indicating very alkaline. Some pH meters display results via a dial.
Fun Fact
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Human blood is slightly alkaline, with a pH value of approximately 7.4.
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References
- Photo Credit Image by Michael Krahe.
