What color does litmus turn in acidic solutions?

In acidic solutions, litmus paper changes color to red. This characteristic is due to the presence of hydrogen ions (H+) in the solution, which affects the chemical structure of the dye in the litmus paper. Litmus is a pH indicator that is derived from lichens, and it undergoes a color change depending on the pH of the environment it is placed in.

In an acidic environment (pH less than 7), the concentration of hydrogen ions is high, which causes the litmus dye to appear red. This is an important property in chemistry, as it allows for the easy identification of whether a solution is acidic or neutral. Neutral solutions (pH around 7) do not cause a color change in litmus, leaving it unchanged, while basic solutions (pH greater than 7) turn the litmus blue. Understanding these changes helps in various applications, including titrations and pH testing in laboratory settings.