On the pH scale, what value represents neutrality?

On the pH scale, what value represents neutrality?

• A. 0
• B. 7
• C. 14
• D. 5

Answer: (B)

On the pH scale, neutrality means the solution has equal amounts of hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions. pH is a measure of acidity via pH = -log10[H+]. For water at room temperature, the product [H+][OH-] = 1.0 × 10^-14. If [H+] equals [OH-], each is 1.0 × 10^-7 M, giving pH = -log10(1.0 × 10^-7) = 7. So seven represents neutrality under standard conditions. Values below seven are acidic (more H+), while values above seven are basic (more OH-). Among the options, seven is the neutral point; zero and five are strongly acidic, while fourteen is strongly basic.

On the pH scale, neutrality means the solution has equal amounts of hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions. pH is a measure of acidity via pH = -log10[H+]. For water at room temperature, the product [H+][OH-] = 1.0 × 10^-14. If [H+] equals [OH-], each is 1.0 × 10^-7 M, giving pH = -log10(1.0 × 10^-7) = 7. So seven represents neutrality under standard conditions. Values below seven are acidic (more H+), while values above seven are basic (more OH-). Among the options, seven is the neutral point; zero and five are strongly acidic, while fourteen is strongly basic.