Battery acid, primarily sulfuric acid, has a pH of approximately 0.8. This extremely low pH signifies a highly acidic solution, making it corrosive and requiring careful handling.
Understanding the pH Scale
The pH scale measures the acidity or alkalinity of a substance. It ranges from 0 to 14, with:
- 0-6: Acidic (lower numbers are stronger acids)
- 7: Neutral (pure water)
- 8-14: Alkaline (higher numbers are stronger alkalis)
Battery acid's pH of 0.8 places it firmly within the strongly acidic range. This high acidity is crucial for the chemical reactions within a lead-acid battery that enable it to store and release electrical energy.
Several sources confirm this acidity:
- Chemicals.co.uk explicitly states that battery acid has a pH of 0.8.
- A Reddit post (https://www.reddit.com/r/mildlyinteresting/comments/t4gzma/battery_acid_has_a_ph_value_of_08_i_tested/) mentions a pH of 0.8 based on a user's test.
- Other sources (https://www.polinovelgroup.com/battery-acid-ph-level/, https://homework.study.com/explanation/what-is-the-ph-of-battery-acid.html) indicate a pH range of 0-1, further supporting the highly acidic nature.
It's important to reiterate the extreme corrosiveness of battery acid due to its low pH. Always handle it with appropriate safety precautions.
