Chemistry 102: Acids: pH difference

Question

A weather system moving through the American Midwest produced rain with an average pH of 5.08. By the time the system reached New England, the rain it produced had an average pH of 4.69.

How much more acidic was the rain falling in New England?

_______times more acidic

Answer 1

pH is exponential

pH = -log [H⁺]

Midwest [H⁺] = 1x10^-5.08 = 8.32x10^-6 M

New England [H⁺] = 1x10^-4.69 = 2.04x10^-5 M

New England = 2.04x10^-5 M / 8.32x10^-6 M = 2.45 times more acidic