How much stronger is the hydrogen ion concentration of ph 4 solution as compared with a ph 9 solution.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The hydrogen ion concentration of a pH 4 solution is 100,000 times stronger compared to a pH 9 solution.
Here’s why:
The pH scale is logarithmic, which means that each unit change in pH represents a tenfold difference in the concentration of hydrogen ions [H+][H^+][H+]. The formula for pH is:pH=−log[H+]\text{pH} = -\log [H^+]pH=−log[H+]
This means that a pH of 4 corresponds to:[H+]=10−4 M[H^+] = 10^{-4} \, \text{M}[H+]=10−4M
Similarly, a pH of 9 corresponds to:[H+]=10−9 M[H^+] = 10^{-9} \, \text{M}[H+]=10−9M
Now, to compare the concentrations, you take the ratio of the hydrogen ion concentrations at pH 4 and pH 9:10−410−9=105\frac{10^{-4}}{10^{-9}} = 10^{5}10−910−4=105
This shows that the hydrogen ion concentration in the pH 4 solution is 100,000 times greater than that in the pH 9 solution.
In simpler terms, for every 1 hydrogen ion in the pH 9 solution, there are 100,000 hydrogen ions in the pH 4 solution. This is a significant difference, indicating that the pH 4 solution is much more acidic than the pH 9 solution, which is slightly basic.
This logarithmic relationship is what makes the pH scale so useful in measuring acidity or alkalinity, as even small changes in pH correspond to large changes in the concentration of hydrogen ions.
