One brand of vinegar has a pH of 4.5. Another brand has a pH of 5.0. What is the approximate difference in the concentration of hydrogen ions between the two brands of vinegar?

Question

joannablackwelder · Answer

pH = - log [H3O+].
You can calculate the concentration of hydrogen ions using this formula. Do you know how to solve for the concentration?

joannablackwelder · Answer

Another way to figure this is to note that on the pH  scale, a change in 1 unit of pH corresponds to a 10 times change of hydrogen ion concentration. So, a change in half a unit would be approx a 5 times hydrogen ion concentration change.