What does 'pH' stand for?

The term 'pH' stands for "potential hydrogen," which refers to the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution. This concept is fundamental in understanding the acidity or alkalinity of a solution. In chemistry, pH is a logarithmic scale used to specify the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution, where lower values indicate higher acidity (more hydrogen ions) and higher values indicate more alkalinity (fewer hydrogen ions).

Understanding that pH measures the potential hydrogen within a solution helps in various applications, especially in skincare and cosmetics, where maintaining the right pH balance is crucial for skin health. For example, products used on the skin should ideally have a pH close to that of the skin itself, around 4.5 to 5.5, to avoid irritation and maintain skin barrier integrity.