I don't understand the pKa equation.  What is the "p"?  What does negative logarithm mean?

Organic Chemistry
8th Edition
ISBN:9781305580350
Author:William H. Brown, Brent L. Iverson, Eric Anslyn, Christopher S. Foote
Publisher:William H. Brown, Brent L. Iverson, Eric Anslyn, Christopher S. Foote
Chapter4: Acids And Bases
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 4.21P: Answer true or false to the following statements about the mechanism of acid-base reactions. (a) The...
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I understand that Ka refers to the rate (constant) that HA acid dissociates into base A- and proton H+.

I don't understand the pKa equation.  What is the "p"?  What does negative logarithm mean?

Thank you.

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