Question

The higher the hydronium ion concentration of a solution, the ______ its pH.

higher or lower

Answer 1

lower

Step-by-step explanation:

Answer 2

The higher the hydronium ion concentration of a solution, the lower its pH.

Step-by-step explanation:

• The pH is the measure of acidity or alkalinity of a substance.

• We calculate pH by using;

pH = -log[H+]

• The lower the pH of a solution the more acidic it is and the higher the pH the more basic or alkaline it is.

• pH =-log[H+] =-log[H₃O+]

• From this relationship, the higher the hydronium ions concentration of a solution the lower the pH and the more acidic a solution is.

For example,

Solution A with a [H₃O+] of 0.003 M will have a pH of

pH = -log 0.003 M

= 2.52

While, a solution B with a [H₃O+] of 0.025 M will have a pH of

pH = -log 0.25 M

= 1.60

Therefore, the higher the concentration of hydronium ion of a solution the lower its pH is.