Use a scientific calculator to calculate [H+] for the following pH values: 7 (a neutral solution)

5.6 (unpolluted rainwater)

3.7 (first acid rain sample in North America)

How many times higher is the concentration of H+ in the Hubbard Brook sample than in unpolluted rainwater?

pH = 7 ⇒ [H⁺] = 1.0x10⁻⁷ M

pH = 5.6 ⇒ [H⁺] = 2.5x10⁻⁶ M

pH = 3.7 ⇒ [H⁺] = 2.0x10⁻⁴ M

H⁺ concentration in the Hubbard Brook sample is 80 times higher than in unpolluted rainwater.

Explanation:

To answer this problem we need to keep in mind the definition of pH:

Meaning that after isolating [H⁺] we're left with:

Now we proceed to calculate [H⁺] for the given pHs:

Finally we calculate how many times higher is [H⁺] when pH = 3.7 than when pH = 5.6.

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