HESI A9
HESI A2 Chemistry Practice Test
1. Which of the following statements, if any, are correct?
- A. pH is a measure of the effective concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution and is approximately related to the molarity of H+ by pH = - log [H+]
- B. pH is a measure of the effective concentration of oxygen ions in a solution and is not related to the molarity of O+ by pH = - log [O+]
- C. pH is a measure of the effective concentration of hydrogen atoms in a solution and is not directly related to the polarity of H+ by pH = - log [H+]
- D. Acidity is a measure of the effective concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution and is not directly related to the molarity of H+ by pH = - log [H+]
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Statement A is correct. pH is a measure of the effective concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution, and it is related to the molarity of H+ by the formula pH = - log [H+]. This equation illustrates the logarithmic relationship between pH and the concentration of hydrogen ions. Oxygen ions and hydrogen atoms are not directly related to pH in the same manner as hydrogen ions. Acidity is determined by the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution, and this concentration is what pH measures. Therefore, option A is the only statement that correctly defines the relationship between pH and the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect as they provide inaccurate information about the relationship between pH and the ions/atoms mentioned. Option B incorrectly associates pH with oxygen ions, option C mentions hydrogen atoms instead of hydrogen ions, and option D confuses acidity with pH, which is a measure of hydrogen ion concentration, not molarity.