Characteristics Of Acidity Or Basicity

Which correctly characterizes acidity or basicity?

Which Description Correctly Characterizes The Acidity Or Basicity Of A Solution?

A) A solution with a pH of 3 is strongly basic

B) A solution with a pH of 7 is highly acidic

C) A solution with a pH of 10 is slightly basic

D) A solution with a pH of 1 is neutral

Correct Answer: C)

A solution with a pH of 10 is slightly basic

Explanation

A pH scale ranges from 0 to 14, where a rating below 7 is considered acidic and above 7 is basic. Any solution with a pH of 7 is considered neutral.

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Why Not the Other Options?

A) A solution with a pH of 3 is strongly basic: A solution with such a pH is strongly acidic, not basic.

B) A solution with a pH of 7 is highly acidic: A solution with a pH of 7 is neutral.

D) A solution with a pH of 1 is neutral: Incorrect. A pH of 1 indicates a very strong acid, far from neutral.

Properties of Acids and Bases

Property	Acids	Bases
Taste	Sour (e.g., vinegar, lemon)	Bitter (e.g., soap, baking soda)
Touch	Corrosive, not safe to touch	Slippery (mild bases)
Reacts with Metals	Yes, produces hydrogen gas	No significant reaction
Litmus Paper Effect	Turns blue litmus red	Turns red litmus blue
pH Range	0–6.9	7.1–14
Electrical Conductivity	Good (when ionized in water)	Good (if strong base)
Neutralization	Reacts with bases to form a salt and water	Reacts with acids to form salt and water

Additional Learning Points About PH Scale

The acidity of a solution depends on the concentration of hydrogen ions (H⁺) in the solution. Even if two acids were to have the same pH, the one with more hydrogen ions would show stronger acidic properties.
Acids like citric acid and Vinegar are commonly used food preservatives. They reduce the pH of the food, making it harder for fungi and bacteria to flourish in it.
Bases are commonly used for cleaning purposes, with soaps being a common example. Heavy-duty cleaning with organic matter like grease, oil, and protein deposits uses bases like sodium hydroxide.
pH is also very important for effective agricultural practices. Most crops require slightly acidic soils, and without proper pH wouldn’t be able to efficiently absorb nutrients.
Acids taste sour while bases taste bitter. This results from how our body reacts to the hydrogen ions and hydroxides. Hydrogen ions (H⁺) activate our sour taste receptors while hydroxides do the same for our bitter taste receptors. Though it's only for the natural ones, as tasting chemical acids and bases is not advisable.