Which statement correctly describes an acidic solution?

Which statement correctly describes an acidic solution?

• A. It has a pH below 7.
• B. It has a pH greater than 7.
• C. It contains more hydroxide than hydrogen ions.
• D. It has equal concentrations of hydrogen and hydroxide ions.

Answer: (A)

An acidic solution is one in which the hydrogen ion activity is higher than the hydroxide ion activity, which gives a pH less than 7. The pH scale measures how acidic or basic a solution is, with neutral around 7 and basic solutions having pH above 7. When there is more H+ (or hydronium, H3O+) than OH-, the solution is acidic, corresponding to a pH below 7. The other statements describe basic or neutral conditions: a pH above 7 indicates a basic solution, more hydroxide than hydrogen ions points to basicity, and equal concentrations of hydrogen and hydroxide ions indicate neutrality.

An acidic solution is one in which the hydrogen ion activity is higher than the hydroxide ion activity, which gives a pH less than 7. The pH scale measures how acidic or basic a solution is, with neutral around 7 and basic solutions having pH above 7. When there is more H+ (or hydronium, H3O+) than OH-, the solution is acidic, corresponding to a pH below 7. The other statements describe basic or neutral conditions: a pH above 7 indicates a basic solution, more hydroxide than hydrogen ions points to basicity, and equal concentrations of hydrogen and hydroxide ions indicate neutrality.