diff --git a/src/pyEQL/utils.py b/src/pyEQL/utils.py
index 358a179c..442b0336 100644
--- a/src/pyEQL/utils.py
+++ b/src/pyEQL/utils.py
@@ -54,7 +54,13 @@ def _translate_pint_quantity(amount: str):
         return amount.magnitude, str(amount.units)
 
     match = re.match(r"^\s*([+-]?\d*\.?\d+(?:[eE][+-]?\d+)?)\s*(.*)$", amount)
+
+    if match is None:
+        return amount
+
     _value, _unit = match.groups()
+    # handle python ** expression in Pint quantity
+    _value = eval(_value) if "**" in _value else float(_value)
     unit = translate_units(_unit)
     return (float(_value), unit)