What is the pH of a neutral solution at 25°C?

Prepare for the NANTeL Chemistry Certification and Engineering Fundamentals Test with multiple choice questions, detailed explanations, and key insights to boost your understanding and confidence. Ace your exam!

Multiple Choice

What is the pH of a neutral solution at 25°C?

Explanation:
At 25°C, a neutral solution has equal concentrations of hydronium (H3O+) and hydroxide (OH−) ions. The autoionization of water gives Kw = [H+][OH−] = 1.0 × 10^-14. If both ions are equal, each concentration is 1.0 × 10^-7 M. The pH is the negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration: pH = −log10(1.0 × 10^-7) = 7. So the neutral point at this temperature is pH 7. Remember that pH tells you how acidic or basic a solution is, with pH < 7 being acidic and pH > 7 being basic; the exact neutral value can shift with temperature because Kw changes.

At 25°C, a neutral solution has equal concentrations of hydronium (H3O+) and hydroxide (OH−) ions. The autoionization of water gives Kw = [H+][OH−] = 1.0 × 10^-14. If both ions are equal, each concentration is 1.0 × 10^-7 M. The pH is the negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration: pH = −log10(1.0 × 10^-7) = 7. So the neutral point at this temperature is pH 7. Remember that pH tells you how acidic or basic a solution is, with pH < 7 being acidic and pH > 7 being basic; the exact neutral value can shift with temperature because Kw changes.

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