What is the pH range typically associated with acids?

Acids are substances that, when dissolved in water, increase the concentration of hydrogen ions (H⁺) in the solution. The pH scale, which ranges from 0 to 14, measures the acidity or basicity of a solution. A pH value below 7 indicates an acidic solution, while a pH value above 7 indicates a basic (or alkaline) solution. This is because pH is essentially the negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration (pH = -log[H⁺]).

When an acid is present, the concentration of hydrogen ions will rise, resulting in a decrease in the pH value below 7. Therefore, the typical range for acids is indeed below 7, demonstrating their characteristic properties as acids. This classification helps in understanding the behavior of various substances in chemical reactions and solubility characteristics.