Which substance has a neutral pH of 7?

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Multiple Choice

Which substance has a neutral pH of 7?

pH measures how acidic or basic a solution is, with 7 being neutral. Neutral means equal amounts of hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions. In pure water at room temperature, these concentrations are equal (about 1×10⁻⁷ M each), giving pH 7. Substances with pH below 7 are acids, with lemon juice having a lot of citric acid and thus a strongly acidic pH around 2–3. Milk is mildly acidic due to lactic acid, roughly in the mid-6s. Ocean water tends to be slightly basic because dissolved salts and carbonate buffering raise the pH above 7, typically around 8.0–8.3. So, water is the neutral option.

pH measures how acidic or basic a solution is, with 7 being neutral. Neutral means equal amounts of hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions. In pure water at room temperature, these concentrations are equal (about 1×10⁻⁷ M each), giving pH 7. Substances with pH below 7 are acids, with lemon juice having a lot of citric acid and thus a strongly acidic pH around 2–3. Milk is mildly acidic due to lactic acid, roughly in the mid-6s. Ocean water tends to be slightly basic because dissolved salts and carbonate buffering raise the pH above 7, typically around 8.0–8.3. So, water is the neutral option.

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