CoachEvery aqueous solution contains hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions . A solution is an acidic solution when it contains more ions than ions, a basic solution when it contains more ions than ions, and a neutral solution when it contains as many of each.
Examples
Example 18.2 (Three solutions)
Hydrochloric acid is an acidic solution: it holds and ions, with very few . A sodium hydroxide solution is basic: and , with very few . Pure water and salt water are neutral.