What pH value is considered neutral?

A pH value of 7 is considered neutral because it indicates a balanced concentration of hydrogen ions (H⁺) and hydroxide ions (OH⁻) in a solution. This balance typically occurs in pure water at 25°C (298 K). In this condition, the concentration of H⁺ ions is equal to the concentration of OH⁻ ions, which is approximately 1 × 10⁻⁷ M.

The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14, where values below 7 indicate acidic solutions (higher concentrations of hydrogen ions) and values above 7 indicate basic or alkaline solutions (higher concentrations of hydroxide ions). Therefore, a pH of 7 serves as the midpoint of the scale, representing a neutral state critical for many biological and chemical processes.