What color do acids turn litmus paper? pink red yellow blue
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Acids turn litmus paper red. This reaction occurs because of the pH of the solution. Litmus paper is a type of pH indicator that changes color depending on whether the solution is acidic or basic.
When an acid is dissolved in water, it releases hydrogen ions (H+), which makes the solution acidic. The litmus paper contains a dye that responds to these hydrogen ions by changing its color. In the presence of an acid, the dye shifts to a red color, indicating the acidic nature of the solution.
The pH scale, which ranges from 0 to 14, is used to measure how acidic or basic a solution is. A pH of 7 is considered neutral (neither acidic nor basic), and a pH below 7 indicates acidity. Strong acids, like hydrochloric acid (HCl) or sulfuric acid (H2SO4), will turn the litmus paper red strongly. Weak acids, like acetic acid (found in vinegar), may also turn litmus paper red, but the color might be slightly less intense.
In contrast, when a base (alkaline solution) is applied to litmus paper, it turns blue. This happens because bases release hydroxide ions (OH-) in water, which increase the solution’s pH above 7. Litmus paper will stay blue or even turn more intensely blue with stronger bases.
The colors of litmus paper are typically red in acids, blue in bases, and purple (a mix) in neutral solutions. So, in summary, acids turn litmus paper red, while bases turn it blue.
