What does a lower pH indicate about a solution?

Prepare for the NCEA Level 3 Chemistry – Aqueous Chemistry (AS91393) Exam. Utilize flashcards and multiple choice questions with hints and explanations. Excel on your exam!

A lower pH indicates a higher concentration of hydrogen ions (H⁺) in a solution. The pH scale typically ranges from 0 to 14, where a pH of 7 is neutral. Solutions with a pH less than 7 are considered acidic, which means they have a higher concentration of hydrogen ions compared to hydroxide ions (OH⁻).

In acidic solutions, the presence of these additional hydrogen ions corresponds to a decrease in pH. This relationship highlights the inverse nature of the pH scale, where lower values reflect greater acidity. Thus, when a solution is said to have a lower pH, it is indicative of an increased concentration of hydrogen ions, confirming that this choice is the most accurate.

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