Question
5 Lye, a substance used in making soap, has a pH of 13. A substance with a pH of 13 is best described as A acidic B basic C neutral D strongly acidic
Answer
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(239 Votes)
Winston
Professional · Tutor for 6 years
Answer
To determine the correct description of a substance with a pH of 13, let's review what pH measures and how it correlates with acidity or basicity.The pH scale measures the concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) in a solution. A lower pH indicates a higher concentration of H+ ions, making the solution acidic. Conversely, a higher pH indicates a lower concentration of H+ ions and a higher concentration of hydroxide ions (OH-), making the solution basic.Given that lye has a pH of 13, which is quite high on the pH scale, it means that it has a low concentration of H+ ions and a high concentration of OH- ions.Comparing the options:A. Acidic - pH values less than 7 are acidic, so this is incorrect.B. Basic - A pH of 13 falls into the basic range of the pH scale, so this is a possible answer.C. Neutral - Neutral pH is 7, and 13 is definitely not neutral.D. Strongly acidic - This is incorrect as the pH is high, indicating a basic solution.Therefore, the correct answer is **B. basic**.