p' Notation
Definition
In chemistry, the 'p' notation is used to denote the negative logarithm of a quantity. It's often used in relation to acidity (pH), basicity (pOH), and equilibrium constants (pKa, pKb).
Analogy
Think of 'p' notation like a volume knob on your music player. The higher the number, the louder or more intense something is. So, if you're turning up the pH level, you're increasing acidity.
Related terms
Logarithm: A mathematical concept that denotes the power to which a base number must be raised to produce a given number.
Acidity: The measure of how acidic a solution is; it's determined by the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution.
Basicity: The measure of how basic or alkaline a solution is; it's determined by the concentration of hydroxide ions in a solution.
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