What does a pH reading below 7 indicate about a solution?

A pH reading below 7 indicates that a solution is acidic. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14, where a pH of 7 is considered neutral, indicating that the concentration of hydrogen ions (H⁺) is equal to that of hydroxide ions (OH⁻). As the pH value decreases below 7, the concentration of hydrogen ions increases, resulting in an acidic condition. Therefore, any reading below 7 signifies that the solution exhibits properties characteristic of acids, such as a sour taste and the ability to conduct electricity due to the presence of ions.