Which statement describes a basic solution?

Which statement describes a basic solution?

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

Answer: (A)

pH is a measure of how acidic or basic a solution is, based on the hydrogen ion concentration. In a basic (alkaline) solution, there are more hydroxide ions than hydrogen ions, which lowers the H+ concentration and pushes the pH above 7. The pH scale runs from 0 (very acidic) to 14 (very basic) with 7 being neutral. So, descriptions of a basic solution are those with a pH greater than 7. A pH below 7 describes an acidic solution, a pH equal to 7 describes neutrality, and equal concentrations of hydrogen and hydroxide ions describe neutrality as well. Hence, a basic solution is characterized by pH > 7.

pH is a measure of how acidic or basic a solution is, based on the hydrogen ion concentration. In a basic (alkaline) solution, there are more hydroxide ions than hydrogen ions, which lowers the H+ concentration and pushes the pH above 7. The pH scale runs from 0 (very acidic) to 14 (very basic) with 7 being neutral. So, descriptions of a basic solution are those with a pH greater than 7. A pH below 7 describes an acidic solution, a pH equal to 7 describes neutrality, and equal concentrations of hydrogen and hydroxide ions describe neutrality as well. Hence, a basic solution is characterized by pH > 7.