Final answer:
A pH change of 0.34 units results in a change in [H+] concentration by a factor of approximately 2.19.
Step-by-step explanation:
When the pH changes by 0.34 units, the concentration of hydrogen ions [H+] changes by a factor corresponding to 10 raised to the power of the change in pH.
Hydrogen ion concentration is more conveniently expressed as pH, which is the logarithm of the reciprocal of the hydrogen ion concentration in gram moles per liter.
Thus, in a neutral solution the hydrogen ion (H+) and the hydroxyl ion (OH−) concentrations are equal, and each is equal to 10−7. A pH of 7 is neutral.
Since a change of 1 pH unit corresponds to a factor of 10, a change of 0.34 pH units represents a change in hydrogen ion concentration by a factor of approximately 10^0.34, which is about 2.19.
A “normal” pH of 7.4 corresponds to a [H+] of 40 nmol/liter while a pH of 7.1 represents twice this concentration (80 nmol/liter). Minor pH deviations outwith the “accepted” normal range (7.35–7.45) represent a significant [H+] change, which deserves enthusiastic management.