What value on the pH scale is considered neutral?

What value on the pH scale is considered neutral?

• A. 0
• B. 7
• C. 14
• D. 6

Answer: (B)

On the pH scale, acidity and basicity come from the hydrogen ion concentration in a solution. The neutral point is reached when the concentrations of hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions are equal. In water at room temperature, that equality happens at about 1×10^−7 M for each ion, which makes the pH equal to −log10(1×10^−7) = 7. So seven is the neutral value. Values below seven indicate acidity (with zero being very strongly acidic), while values above seven indicate basicity (with fourteen being very strongly basic).

On the pH scale, acidity and basicity come from the hydrogen ion concentration in a solution. The neutral point is reached when the concentrations of hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions are equal. In water at room temperature, that equality happens at about 1×10^−7 M for each ion, which makes the pH equal to −log10(1×10^−7) = 7. So seven is the neutral value. Values below seven indicate acidity (with zero being very strongly acidic), while values above seven indicate basicity (with fourteen being very strongly basic).