How many times higher is the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution with a pH of 5 compared to a solution with a pH of 7?

To determine how many times higher the concentration of hydrogen ions is in a solution with a pH of 5 compared to a solution with a pH of 7, it is essential to understand the pH scale and its logarithmic nature. The pH scale measures the concentration of hydrogen ions (H⁺) in a solution. Each whole number change on the pH scale represents a tenfold change in hydrogen ion concentration.

A pH of 7 is considered neutral, whereas a pH of 5 is more acidic. The difference between these two pH values is 2 units. Therefore, moving from pH 7 to pH 6 represents a tenfold increase in hydrogen ion concentration. Moving from pH 6 to pH 5 represents another tenfold increase. Consequently, the total increase in hydrogen ion concentration from a pH of 7 to a pH of 5 is:

10 (from pH 7 to pH 6) × 10 (from pH 6 to pH 5) = 100.

Hence, the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution with a pH of 5 is 100 times higher than that in a solution with a pH