What effect does the concentration of H⁺(aq) ions have on the nature of the solution?
The concentration of H⁺(aq) ions directly determines the acidic nature of a solution. A neutral solution has a pH of 7, while values less than 7 on the pH scale represent an acidic solution.
When the concentration of H⁺(aq) ions increases, the pH value decreases. This means that higher the hydronium ion concentration, lower is the pH value, making the solution more acidic in nature.
The universal indicator shows different colours at different concentrations of hydrogen ions, helping identify whether a solution is acidic or basic based on its pH value from 0 (very acidic) to 14 (very alkaline).
Explanation
This question tests the student's understanding of the relationship between H⁺(aq) ion concentration and the nature of a solution. From the textbook context, we learn that pH is a scale for measuring hydrogen ion concentration. The key points are: (1) pH of a neutral solution is 7, (2) values less than 7 represent acidic solutions, (3) higher hydronium ion concentration means lower pH value. Therefore, as H⁺(aq) ion concentration increases, the solution becomes more acidic (lower pH).