AMB Tools & Equipment has a complete line of cleaning chemicals to suit your needs.  We have teamed up with JADCO Chemical of Portland, OR to bring you the power and cleaning efficiency you deserve.

Understanding pH

pH is a unit of measurement like inches, hours, ounces.  It measures the concentration of hydrogen ions [H+].  Ions are just electrically charged atoms.  Hydrogen ions are said to be acidic in nature eg. Hydrochloric acid HC1 and sulfuric acid H2SO4.

Hydroxide ions [OH-] are said to be alkaline in nature.  Both hydrogen and hydroxide ions are present in all solutions containing water.  In distilled water there is exactly the same concentration of each.

pH is not a guide to the strength of acid cleaners.  Most acid cleaners contain a sufficient amount of acid to give a pH of less than 1.  And, too, some acids, like sulfuric acid, due to their chemical properties, are very aggressive, even at low concentrations, while other acids, like phosphoric acid, are relatively mild even in concentrated form.

Second, as indicated above, pH does not always measure the corrosiveness of a product.  Both of the acids mentioned, sulfuric and phosphoric, at a concentration of 25% would have pH's of near 0.  However, the sulfuric would cause severe burns to the skin, while phosphoric probably would not produce even a stinging sensation.

The pH scale is a logarithmic scale, which simply means that going from one pH unit to the next increases or decreases the amount of H+ by 10 times.  This ten-fold relationship is shown on the left side of the chart (Concentration of H+).  Also shown is how actual numbers of the pH scale originated -- merely count the number of places after the decimal points.  It is obviuos why the scale was developed -- for it is easier to speak in terms of the whole number than the very small decimals.

Most of the degreasers and all-purpose cleaners are alkalines and are found in the upper portion of the pH scale.

>>> CHEMICAL DESCRIPTIONS