Prepare for the AFOQT Test. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Practice this question and more.


What characteristic indicates the pH level of an acid?

  1. A pH between 7 and 14

  2. A pH of 7

  3. A pH between 0 and 7

  4. A pH below 0

The correct answer is: A pH between 0 and 7

The characteristic that indicates the pH level of an acid is a pH between 0 and 7. Acids are substances that release hydrogen ions (H⁺) in solution, causing the pH to drop below 7, which is the neutral level for pH. The scale ranges from 0 to 14, where values lower than 7 signify acidity, and values higher than 7 signify alkalinity. A pH between 7 and 14 denotes basic or alkaline substances rather than acids. A pH of exactly 7 represents a neutral solution, typically seen in pure water. While it is possible in some extreme cases for a substance to have a pH below 0 (such as concentrated strong acids), this is not the general characteristic for acids as a whole. Therefore, when looking for the typical range that signifies an acidic environment, the correct identification is between 0 and 7.