A substance with pH of 3 is 10 times as Acidic as a substance with a pH of 4. *****or*******
A substance with a pH 3 is twice as acidic as a substance with a pH of 4.
pH 3 = 10x acidity of pH 4.
To understand why a substance with a pH of 3 is 10 times (or twice) as acidic as a substance with a pH of 4, we need to explore the concept of pH and how it relates to the acidity of a substance.
pH is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution. It is determined by the concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) in the solution. A lower pH value indicates a higher concentration of hydrogen ions and therefore a more acidic solution.
The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14, with 7 being considered neutral. pH values below 7 are considered acidic, while pH values above 7 are considered alkaline or basic.
Now, let's compare a substance with a pH of 3 to a substance with a pH of 4.
When we say that a substance with a pH of 3 is 10 times as acidic as a substance with a pH of 4, it means that the concentration of hydrogen ions in the substance with a pH of 3 is indeed 10 times higher than in the substance with a pH of 4.
To calculate this, we use the fact that the pH scale is logarithmic. Each increase or decrease of 1 pH unit represents a tenfold change in acidity or alkalinity.
So, if a substance with a pH of 4 has a certain concentration of hydrogen ions (let's say X), then the substance with a pH of 3 would have a concentration of hydrogen ions that is 10 times higher, which is equal to 10X.
This logarithmic relationship allows us to understand why a small change in pH corresponds to a significant change in acidity.
Similarly, if we say that a substance with a pH of 3 is twice as acidic as a substance with a pH of 4, it means that the concentration of hydrogen ions in the substance with a pH of 3 is twice as high as in the substance with a pH of 4. In this case, the concentration of hydrogen ions in the substance with a pH of 3 would be 2X.
In summary, the relationship between pH and acidity is logarithmic, and a substance with a lower pH is more acidic. A substance with a pH of 3 is 10 times (or twice) as acidic as a substance with a pH of 4 because the concentration of hydrogen ions is respectively 10 times (or twice) higher in the substance with a pH of 3 compared to the substance with a pH of 4.