IMAT Chemistry Practice Exam

What does a pH value of 7 indicate?

Neutral solution Acidic solution Basic solution Strongly acidic solution

Correct Answer:

Neutral solution

Explanation:

pH is a measure of how acidic or basic a solution is by looking at hydrogen ion concentration. A neutral solution occurs when the concentrations of H+ and OH− are equal. In pure water at room temperature, both ions are 1×10−7 M, so pH = -log10(1×10−7) = 7. That makes the solution neutral, meaning it is neither acidic nor basic. If the pH were less than 7, there would be more H+ and the solution would be acidic; if greater than 7, more OH− and it would be basic. (Note: neutrality is defined at standard room temperature; at other temperatures the exact pH of neutral water can shift, but the idea of equal concentrations defining neutrality remains.)

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