Question:medium

What is the pH of a 0.01 M hydrochloric acid (HCl) solution?

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The pH of a strong acid solution can be directly calculated using the negative logarithm of its concentration since strong acids dissociate completely in water.
Updated On: Nov 26, 2025
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The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

Hydrochloric acid (HCl), a strong acid, completely dissociates in water according to the equation: \[ \text{HCl} \rightarrow \text{H}^+ + \text{Cl}^- \] Consequently, the concentration of hydrogen ions, denoted as $[\text{H}^+]$, is equivalent to the HCl concentration, which is 0.01 M. The pH is determined by the formula: \[ \text{pH} = -\log [\text{H}^+] \] Upon substitution of the value: \[ \text{pH} = -\log (0.01) = 2 \] Therefore, the solution exhibits a pH of 2.
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