The optimum soil pH for growing strawberries is 6.5, whereas the optimum soil pH for growing blueberries is 4.5.Therefore, the number of hydrogen ions needed to grow blueberries is _______ times the number needed to grow strawberries.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The pH scale is logarithmic, meaning that a change of one pH unit represents a tenfold change in acidity or alkalinity. For example, a solution with a pH of 3 is ten times more acidic than a solution with a pH of 4. Therefore, the difference in optimum pH between strawberries (pH 6.5) and blueberries (pH 4.5) is a difference of 2 pH units. Since blueberries prefer a more acidic soil, they require 100 times more hydrogen ions than strawberries (10²). Therefore, the correct answer is C, 100.

The Optimum Soil PH for Growing Strawberries Is 6