Whittier Competition Academic Team Practice Test 2025 – The Complete Study Guide for Success!

A solution with a pH level below 7 is identified as an acidic solution. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14, where values below 7 indicate acidity, values exactly at 7 are considered neutral (like pure water), and values above 7 indicate a basic or alkaline nature.

Acids are substances that release hydrogen ions (H+) when dissolved in water, leading to a lower pH. The characteristics of acidic solutions often include a sour taste and the ability to turn blue litmus paper red, which is a common indicator of acidity in chemical tests.

In contrast, a neutral solution has a pH of exactly 7, indicating neither acidic nor basic properties, while an alkaline solution refers to those with a pH above 7, indicating the presence of hydroxide ions (OH-). Basic solutions can feel slippery and can turn red litmus paper blue. Therefore, the use of the term acidic solution accurately describes solutions with a pH below 7.