Whether a substance is classified as acidic, basic, or neutral is determined by its \(\mathrm{pH}\). A pH below 7 is acidic, a \(\mathrm{pH}\) of 7 is neutral, and a \(\mathrm{pH}\) above 7 is basic. Below is a table of common substances and their \(\mathrm{pH}\) values. $$ \begin{array}{|l|l|} \hline \text { Substance } & \text { pH } \\ \hline \text { lemon juice } & 2 \\ \hline \text { water } & 7 \\ \hline \text { vinegar } & 2.2 \\ \hline \text { baking soda solution } & 8.3 \\ \hline \end{array} $$ Based on the information above, what percent of the substances in the table are basic? You may use a calculator.

Understanding the nature of substances is crucial in chemistry, and the pH scale serves as a tool to classify them as acids, bases, or neutral. Acids are substances that have a pH level less than 7. They typically taste sour and can be corrosive. Common examples include lemon juice and vinegar, which, as you noticed from the exercise, have pH values of 2 and 2.2, respectively.

Bases, also known as alkaline substances, have a pH level greater than 7. They often have a bitter taste and a slippery feel. A familiar household base is baking soda, which makes a solution with a pH of 8.3, identifying it as a base in our exercise. Water, with a pH of 7, is considered neutral, neither acidic nor basic, and serves as a point of reference on the pH scale.

To sum it up, if we are to classify substances based on their pH values, we use the following simple rules: if the pH is below 7, it's an acid; if it's exactly 7, it's neutral; and if it's above 7, it's a base.

When dealing with percentages, we are often trying to understand parts of a whole in terms of 'per hundred.' Calculating a percentage is a mathematical way to express a fraction or a ratio. To calculate a percentage, you divide the portion of interest (in this case, the number of basic substances) by the total number and then multiply the result by 100.

In the example from the exercise, you’re asked to find what percent of the substances are basic. This is a straightforward calculation where you're comparing the count of basic substances against the total provided. Using the formula \( \text{Percentage} = \left( \frac{\text{Number of basic substances}}{\text{Total number of substances}} \right) \times 100 \), you can see how the 25% is derived, indicating that a quarter of the listed substances are basic.

The pH scale is a measure of how acidic or basic a substance is and ranges from 0 to 14. This scale is logarithmic, which means each whole pH value below 7 is ten times more acidic than the next higher value. Conversely, each whole pH value above 7 is ten times more alkaline (or basic) than the one below it. The scale is centered around 7, which is neutral, like pure water.

The exercise provided illustrates the pH values for a selection of substances. This insight helps us to quickly see that substances like lemon juice and vinegar are highly acidic with their low pH values. Baking soda solution stands out as basic with its pH value of 8.3. Understanding the logarithmic nature of the pH scale is vital when interpreting these values, as a small difference in pH can indicate a large change in acidity or alkalinity.