Final answer:
At 60 degrees Celsius, a pH of 7 is considered alkaline or basic because the neutral point at this temperature is a pH of 6.31. So, for any pH greater than 6.31, the solution is basic in nature.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine whether a pH of 7 at 60 degrees Celsius is neutral, acidic, or alkaline, we need to consider that the neutral pH value changes with temperature. At 25 degrees Celsius, a pH of 7 is considered neutral. However, at 60 degrees Celsius, neutral solutions exhibit a pH and pOH of 6.31. Therefore, a solution with a pH of 7 at 60 degrees Celsius would be basic or alkaline.
For instance, human blood with a pH of 7.4 is slightly basic, household ammonia with a pH of 11.0 is basic, and cherries with a pH of 3.6 are acidic. At the increased temperature, because the pH of 7 is greater than 6.31, the condition for an alkaline or basic solution is met.
In summary, at 60 degrees Celsius, a pH of 7 is alkaline or basic, not neutral. This is a critical aspect to consider in processes like enzyme reactions in organisms that take place at different temperatures.