Which statement about pH and hydrogen ion concentration is true?

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Study for the IMAT Chemistry Exam. Access flashcards and multiple choice questions; hints and explanations included for each question. Prepare effectively for your exam.

Multiple Choice

Which statement about pH and hydrogen ion concentration is true?

Explanation:
pH is defined as the negative base-10 logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration: pH = -log10[H+]. This makes the relationship logarithmic, not a simple inverse or direct proportion. Because of the minus sign and the log, increasing [H+] lowers pH: a tenfold increase in [H+] reduces pH by one unit (pH = -log10[H+] means -log10(10×[H+]) = -1 - log10[H+], so pH drops by 1). Conversely, decreasing [H+] raises pH. So the statement that pH decreases as [H+] increases is the correct description of their relationship.

pH is defined as the negative base-10 logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration: pH = -log10[H+]. This makes the relationship logarithmic, not a simple inverse or direct proportion. Because of the minus sign and the log, increasing [H+] lowers pH: a tenfold increase in [H+] reduces pH by one unit (pH = -log10[H+] means -log10(10×[H+]) = -1 - log10[H+], so pH drops by 1). Conversely, decreasing [H+] raises pH. So the statement that pH decreases as [H+] increases is the correct description of their relationship.

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