The figure below shows where two solutions, X and Y, fall on the pH scale.
Which statement correctly compares solutions X and Y?
A.
Solution X has a higher concentration of hydroxide ions (OH-) than solution Y.
B.
Solution X has a higher concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) than solution Y.
C.
Solutions X and Y have equal concentrations of hydroxide ions (OH-).
D.
Solutions X and Y have equal concentrations of hydrogen ions (H+).
B. Solution X has a higher concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) than solution Y.
To compare solutions X and Y based on the given pH scale, we need to understand how pH relates to the concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) and hydroxide ions (OH-).
The pH scale is a logarithmic scale that measures the acidity or alkalinity of a solution. A lower pH indicates a higher concentration of hydrogen ions (H+), making the solution more acidic. A higher pH indicates a higher concentration of hydroxide ions (OH-), making the solution more alkaline or basic.
Looking at the figure, solution X has a lower pH than solution Y. Therefore, it can be concluded that solution X has a higher concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) compared to solution Y.
The correct statement is:
B. Solution X has a higher concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) than solution Y.
To compare the solutions X and Y, we need to understand the pH scale and what it represents. The pH scale is a scale that measures the acidity or alkalinity (basicity) of a solution. It ranges from 0 to 14, with 0 being the most acidic, 14 being the most alkaline, and 7 being neutral.
Based on the given figure, we can see that solution X is closer to a pH value of 14, while solution Y is closer to a pH value of 0. This tells us that solution X is more alkaline (basic) and solution Y is more acidic.
To determine which statement correctly compares solutions X and Y, we need to evaluate each option:
A. Solution X has a higher concentration of hydroxide ions (OH-) than solution Y.
Since solution X is more alkaline and hydroxide ions (OH-) are associated with bases, this statement is correct. Solution X does, indeed, have a higher concentration of hydroxide ions (OH-) than solution Y.
B. Solution X has a higher concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) than solution Y.
Based on the above information, this statement is incorrect. Solution X is more alkaline and is associated with a lower concentration of hydrogen ions (H+), while solution Y is more acidic and is associated with a higher concentration of hydrogen ions (H+).
C. Solutions X and Y have equal concentrations of hydroxide ions (OH-).
Based on the above information, this statement is incorrect. The figure shows that solution X is more alkaline, indicating a higher concentration of hydroxide ions (OH-), while solution Y is more acidic, indicating a lower concentration of hydroxide ions (OH-).
D. Solutions X and Y have equal concentrations of hydrogen ions (H+).
Based on the above information, this statement is incorrect. The figure shows that solution X is more alkaline, indicating a lower concentration of hydrogen ions (H+), while solution Y is more acidic, indicating a higher concentration of hydrogen ions (H+).
Therefore, the correct statement is:
A. Solution X has a higher concentration of hydroxide ions (OH-) than solution Y.