How much more acidic is a pH of 2 compared to a pH of 3?

A pH scale measures the concentration of hydrogen ions (H⁺) in a solution, with lower values indicating higher acidity. Each whole number change on the pH scale represents a tenfold change in acidity. Therefore, a transition from a pH of 3 to a pH of 2 represents a change of one full unit on the pH scale.

When moving from pH 3 to pH 2, the concentration of hydrogen ions increases by a factor of 10. This is because the pH scale is logarithmic: every unit decrease corresponds to a tenfold increase in acidity. As a result, a solution with a pH of 2 is 10 times more acidic than a solution with a pH of 3.

Understanding this logarithmic relationship is key to interpreting changes in acidity and how they affect chemical reactions and behaviors in various environments, especially in food service and equipment scenarios where pH can impact food safety and quality.