4-6 on the pH scale is how much more acidic?

Prepare for your College Biology Exam 1 with flashcards and multiple choice questions. Test your understanding with detailed explanations and hints to ensure success in your biology exam!

Multiple Choice

4-6 on the pH scale is how much more acidic?

Explanation:
Acidity is tied to hydrogen ion concentration, and the pH scale is logarithmic. Each unit change represents a tenfold change in [H+]. So going from pH 6 to pH 4 multiplies the hydrogen ion concentration by 10 twice: 10 × 10 = 100. In numbers, [H+] is 1×10^-6 M at pH 6 and 1×10^-4 M at pH 4, a 100-fold difference. Therefore, pH 4 is 100 times more acidic than pH 6.

Acidity is tied to hydrogen ion concentration, and the pH scale is logarithmic. Each unit change represents a tenfold change in [H+]. So going from pH 6 to pH 4 multiplies the hydrogen ion concentration by 10 twice: 10 × 10 = 100. In numbers, [H+] is 1×10^-6 M at pH 6 and 1×10^-4 M at pH 4, a 100-fold difference. Therefore, pH 4 is 100 times more acidic than pH 6.

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