Final answer:
Adding a substance with a pH of 3.2 to water results in an increase in hydrogen ions (H+) and a decrease in hydroxide ions (OH-), increasing the solution's acidity.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a substance with a pH of 3.2 is added to water, the concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) will increase, and the concentration of hydroxide ions (OH−) will decrease. This is because a substance with a pH of 3.2 is acidic, meaning it has a higher concentration of hydrogen ions than neutral water (pH 7).
When added to water, the extra hydrogen ions will increase the acidity of the solution, and, due to the autoionization equilibrium of water, the concentration of hydroxide ions will correspondingly decrease to maintain a constant product of the concentrations of H+ and OH− ions.