Acidic

Definition

Acidic describes a substance with a pH less than 7, indicating a higher concentration of hydrogen ions (H+). It is the opposite of basic or alkaline.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. An acidic solution has a pH value between 0 and 7, with lower values being more acidic.
2. Common examples of acidic substances include lemon juice, vinegar, and stomach acid.
3. The strength of an acid is determined by its ability to donate hydrogen ions (H+) in an aqueous solution.
4. Strong acids fully dissociate in water, while weak acids only partially dissociate.
5. The formula for calculating pH is $\text{pH} = -\log[H^+]$, where $[H^+]$ represents the molar concentration of hydrogen ions.

Review Questions

Related terms

Basic:

Describes a substance with a pH greater than 7, indicating a lower concentration of hydrogen ions and higher concentration of hydroxide ions (OH-).

pOH:

A measure related to the concentration of hydroxide ions (OH-) in a solution, calculated as $\text{pOH} = -\log[OH^-]$.

$K_a$: $K_a$, or acid dissociation constant, quantifies the strength of an acid in solution by measuring its tendency to donate protons.