A map of eastern North America, showing the pH of rainfall in the various states, indicates that the pH of rain in New York State varies from 4.22 to 4.40. According to these figures, what is the most acidic rainfall in New York?

Answer 1

Where #pH=4.22#...

By definition, #pH=-log_10[H_3O^+]#..and thus the more NEGATIVE reading of #pH# (i.e. the numerically smaller reading), has the HIGHEST #[H_3O^+]#..

We got here two #pH# values...

#pH=4.40; [H_3O^+]=10^(-4.40)*mol*L^-1=3.98xx10^-5*mol*L^-1.#

#pH=4.22; [H_3O^+]=10^(-2.22)*mol*L^-1=6.03xx10^-3*mol*L^-1.#

Because of this, the second solution has 100 times the acidity of the first.

Concentrated #HCl# comes out of the bottle with #10.6*mol*L^-1# concentration, what is the ostensible #pH# of this solution?

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Answer 2

Kai Bowman

The most acidic rainfall in New York would have a pH of 4.22.

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Answer from HIX Tutor

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.