What Does pH Stand for?

It’s a common question for middle school science students and health conscious adults alike: what does pH stand for? While this question may be asked for a variety of different reasons, pH has one basic meaning. The abbreviation pH stands for potential hydrogen. This abbreviation is always spelled with a small “p” and a capital “H.”

In scientific terms, what pH would stand for is ability of molecules to attract hydrogen ions. An acidic molecule would have a low ability to attract hydrogen ions, while an alkaline molecule would have a high ability to attract hydrogen ions. The pH of a solution is measured on a scale from zero to 14. On the pH scale, zero would stand for the highest possible acidity reading, 7 is neutral, and 14 is the highest alkalinity reading.

What pH stands for in the human body is a more specific study of the acid and alkaline environment within your bodily fluids. The human body strives to maintain a slightly alkaline pH at all times. Various organs inside your body help maintain this pH, including your kidneys and your lungs. Certain foods, once digested in your body, are known to leave behind an acidic pH, which your body must correct to maintain the proper pH balance. It is believed that, through a proper diet, buffering agents, and pH testing, you can help your body sustain a healthy pH balance.