What does a pH Meter indicate when measuring a harmful acid?

A pH meter provides a numerical value that indicates the acidity or alkalinity of a solution. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14, with lower numbers indicating higher acidity, 7 being neutral, and higher numbers indicating alkalinity. Acids typically have a pH below 7, and a harmful acid is likely to have a significantly low pH, often below 2.

When measuring a harmful acid with a pH reading of less than 2, it indicates a highly acidic environment, which is characteristic of substances that can be corrosive or hazardous. Such acids can cause severe chemical burns or damage to materials they come into contact with.

Therefore, a pH reading of less than 2 accurately reflects the potential danger posed by strong acids, making it the correct choice in this context. Other pH ranges, such as readings over 14 or between 7 and 10, do not signify harmful acids and suggest neutral or basic solutions, respectively, while readings of 0 indicate extreme acidity, which while dangerous, is not necessarily indicative of every harmful acid.