Florida Drinking Water Operator "B" Practice Test

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Study for the Florida Drinking Water Operator "B" Test. Use multiple choice questions, flashcards, and explanations to prepare. Ace your certification!

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If there are more hydroxyl ions in a solution than hydrogen ions, how is the solution classified?

Neutral
Acidic
Basic
Alkaline

The correct answer is: Basic

When there are more hydroxyl ions (OH-) than hydrogen ions (H+) in a solution, the solution is classified as basic. This is because the presence of excess hydroxyl ions indicates that the solution has a pH greater than 7, which is the threshold for indicating basicity. In a neutral solution, the concentration of hydroxyl ions is equal to that of hydrogen ions, giving the solution a pH of 7. An acidic solution, on the other hand, has a higher concentration of hydrogen ions than hydroxyl ions, resulting in a pH below 7. Additionally, basic and alkaline are often used interchangeably in chemistry, as both terms describe solutions with a pH greater than 7. Therefore, referring to a solution with more hydroxyl ions than hydrogen ions as basic accurately describes its chemical characteristics, highlighting the higher concentration of OH- that defines this type of solution.