A solution with a pH of 5 has a concentration of hydrogen ions that is how many times higher than a solution with a pH of 7?

Prepare for the CWEA Environmental Compliance Test with flashcards and multiple choice questions. Each question includes hints and detailed explanations. Get ready for your exam!

The concept of pH is fundamentally based on a logarithmic scale, which means that each whole number change in pH corresponds to a tenfold change in hydrogen ion concentration. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14, with lower pH values indicating higher concentrations of hydrogen ions (H⁺) and higher pH values indicating lower concentrations.

In this case, a solution with a pH of 5 has more hydrogen ions than a solution with a pH of 7. To understand how many times higher the concentration of hydrogen ions is in the pH 5 solution compared to the pH 7 solution, we can calculate the difference in pH values:

  • The difference between 5 and 7 is 2.

Using the logarithmic scale, each unit change in pH represents a tenfold difference in hydrogen ion concentration. Therefore:

  • A difference of 2 in pH (from 5 to 7) indicates that the concentration of hydrogen ions is (10^2) times, or 100 times greater.

Thus, the concentration of hydrogen ions in the solution with a pH of 5 is 100 times higher than that in the solution with a pH of 7

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