Question 1 of 21 What does an increase of 1 pH number represent? A. A decrease in hydrogen ion concentration by a factor of 10 B. An increase of 1 mole per liter of hydrogen ions C. A decrease of 1 mole per liter of hydrogen ions D. An increase in hydrogen ion concentration by a factor of 10

An increase of 1 pH number actually means the solution becomes less acidic, leading to a decrease in hydrogen ion concentration by a factor of 10. This is because the pH scale is logarithmic; each whole number change represents a tenfold change in acidity or alkalinity. So, if you see a pH level go from 5 to 6, that's ten times fewer hydrogen ions! In practical terms, this means that if you're playing around with the pH of a solution in an experiment or even cooking, a small shift in pH can significantly alter the outcome. For instance, a dish can taste more sour or bland depending on those subtle pH changes, impacting how flavors develop. Always keep your pH meter handy!