How Do the Concentrations of H⁺ and OH− Compare to Each

Question

How do the concentrations of H⁺ and OH− compare to each other in an acidic solution?
A) The concentration of H⁺ is higher.
B) The concentration of H⁺ is lower.
C) The concentration of H⁺ is the same.
D) Acidic solutions do not contain H⁺.

Accepted Answer

In an acidic solution, the concentration of H⁺ is higher than the concentration of OH⁻. This is because acids are substances that release H⁺ ions when they are dissolved in water, leading to an excess of H⁺ ions in the solution. This results in a decrease in pH, making the solution acidic. On the other hand, the concentration of OH⁻ ions is low because the H⁺ ions combine with water molecules to form H₃O⁺ ions, reducing the availability of OH⁻ ions in the solution.