Question

Which statement best describes the difference between a substance with a pH of 3.0 and a substance with a pH of 6.0?(1 point)
Responses

The substance with the lower pH has 1,000 times as many hydrogen ions per volume of water.
The substance with the lower pH has 1,000 times as many hydrogen ions per volume of water.

The substance with the higher pH has 1,000 times as many hydrogen ions per volume of water.
The substance with the higher pH has 1,000 times as many hydrogen ions per volume of water.

The substance with the lower pH has twice as many hydrogen ions per volume of water.
The substance with the lower pH has twice as many hydrogen ions per volume of water.

The substance with the higher pH has twice as many hydrogen ions per volume of water.

1 answer

The statement that best describes the difference between a substance with a pH of 3.0 and a substance with a pH of 6.0 is:

The substance with the lower pH has 1,000 times as many hydrogen ions per volume of water.

This is because the pH scale is logarithmic, meaning that each decrease of 1 in pH corresponds to a tenfold increase in the concentration of hydrogen ions (H⁺). Therefore, a pH of 3.0 (which is 3 units lower than pH 6.0) indicates that the hydrogen ion concentration is \(10^3\) (or 1,000) times higher.