What is the range of the pH scale?

Prepare for your College Biology Exam 1 with flashcards and multiple choice questions. Test your understanding with detailed explanations and hints to ensure success in your biology exam!

Multiple Choice

What is the range of the pH scale?

Explanation:
pH is a measure of how acidic or basic a solution is, expressed on a logarithmic scale that reflects hydrogen ion concentration. In dilute aqueous solutions at room temperature, the scale runs from 0 to 14, with neutral at 7. Values below 7 are acidic and values above 7 are basic. Each unit change represents a tenfold change in [H+], so pH 3 is ten times more acidic than pH 4, and pH 9 is ten times more basic than pH 8. While extremely strong acids or bases can push beyond this range in special conditions, the standard teaching range is 0–14.

pH is a measure of how acidic or basic a solution is, expressed on a logarithmic scale that reflects hydrogen ion concentration. In dilute aqueous solutions at room temperature, the scale runs from 0 to 14, with neutral at 7. Values below 7 are acidic and values above 7 are basic. Each unit change represents a tenfold change in [H+], so pH 3 is ten times more acidic than pH 4, and pH 9 is ten times more basic than pH 8. While extremely strong acids or bases can push beyond this range in special conditions, the standard teaching range is 0–14.

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