The most basic solution is the one with the highest pH or low pH, and why?

Question

The most basic solution is the one with the highest pH or low pH, and why?

Answer 1

Most basic would be the one with the highest pH. Why? Because that's how they decided to define the pH scale. Anything above pH 7 is considered basic, below pH 7 is acidic and 7 is neutral. This is under standard conditions.

Answer 2

This is how they calculate pH:

pH = -log[H+]    where H+ is the concentration of H+ ions

So if you have a low concentration of H+ ions (as in an basic solution), you will get a small value for log[H+].  BUT, because it's a NEGATIVE log[H+], the value instead becomes a high value.  The reverse occurs with acidic/high H+ concentrations.

So that is why high pH = basic

Answer 3

Acids have a pH < 7, bases >7 and neutral=7.  pH refers to the concentration of hydrogen ion (H) or hydroxide ions (OH) present in a aqueous solution (i.e. in water). The pH number comes from taking the -log of the concentration of the hydrogen ions for an acid or the hyroxide for a base.

Answer 4

basic solution has high pH because lower H+ and high OH- (hydroxyl)

acidic solution has low pH because high H+ and low OH-