What happens to the pH value of a solution when it becomes more acidic?

What happens to the pH value of a solution when it becomes more acidic?

• A. It increases
• B. It decreases
• C. It remains the same
• D. It becomes neutral

Answer: (B)

When a solution becomes more acidic, the concentration of hydrogen ions (H⁺) in the solution increases. pH is a logarithmic scale that measures the concentration of hydrogen ions: as the concentration of H⁺ ions increases, the pH value decreases. Specifically, the pH scale typically ranges from 0 to 14, where values below 7 indicate acidity, values of 7 are neutral, and values above 7 indicate alkalinity. Thus, when acidity increases, the pH value moves closer to 0, leading to a decrease in pH. This is why the correct response effectively reflects that a more acidic solution correlates with a lower pH value.

When a solution becomes more acidic, the concentration of hydrogen ions (H⁺) in the solution increases. pH is a logarithmic scale that measures the concentration of hydrogen ions: as the concentration of H⁺ ions increases, the pH value decreases. Specifically, the pH scale typically ranges from 0 to 14, where values below 7 indicate acidity, values of 7 are neutral, and values above 7 indicate alkalinity. Thus, when acidity increases, the pH value moves closer to 0, leading to a decrease in pH. This is why the correct response effectively reflects that a more acidic solution correlates with a lower pH value.