Acids, Bases, and pH
Acidity and basicity
Acids
Acids are substances that can donate hydrogen ions in water. They often taste sour, though tasting chemicals is never safe in a lab.
Bases
Bases are substances that can accept hydrogen ions or produce hydroxide ions in water. They often feel slippery.
The pH scale
The pH scale is a way to measure how acidic or basic a solution is. Lower pH means more acidic, higher pH means more basic.
pH overview
| pH range | Type | General idea |
|---|---|---|
| Below 7 | Acidic | More acidic |
| 7 | Neutral | Neither acidic nor basic |
| Above 7 | Basic | More basic |
A solution with pH 3 is:
pH values below 7 indicate acidity.
Correct answer: Acidic
What does pH measure?
pH describes the acidity/basicity of a solution.
Correct answer: How acidic or basic a solution is
Safety note
Acids and bases can be corrosive. Always handle unknown substances carefully and follow lab safety rules.
What pH is considered neutral?
Neutral solutions are around pH 7.
Correct answer: 7