The pH of a substance basically affects how it reacts with other substances. The more strongly acidic or alkaline a substance, the more strongly it will react.
pH is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a substance. All substances, once dissolved in water, will consist of ions, which are particles with a positive or negative charge. pH is measured by the concentration of two types of ions contained in a liquid; hydrogen ions, or hydroxide ions. The higher the concentration of hydrogen ions, the lower the pH, indicating high acidity and low alkalinity. The lower the concentration of the hydrogen ions, the higher the pH, indicating high alkalinity and low acidity.
Here’s a guide to the pH values of everyday items.
