neutral water?

[Alyssa Bilinsky 2B]

In the lecture explaining how to calculate the pH of weak acids and bases, there was a note explaining how if the concentration of H3O+ is less than 10^-7 then the solution is considered neutral because of autoprotolysis. How does this make sense? If the concentration is less than 10^-7, wouldn't the solution be basic? I am very confused.

[506002081]

Hi, the pH wouldn't be completely neutral at that point. It wouldn't be a strong base either but instead would be considered alkaline.

[Eugene Chung 3A]

The compound is hardly increases the H3O+concentration above 10-7 M. For example, if you add 10^-10 M H3O+ + 10^-7 M H3O+ and then take the log of the sum, the pH is 6.999 (basically 7).