Portland cement is acidic or basic?

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Multiple Choice

Portland cement is acidic or basic?

Explanation:
Portland cement is basic because its hydration releases calcium hydroxide and other alkali hydroxides into the pore solution, driving the pH up to about 12–13. This strongly alkaline environment is essential for cement chemistry and for steel reinforcement passivation. An acidic or neutral environment would have pH below or around 7, and amphoteric behavior doesn’t apply to the cement paste.

Portland cement is basic because its hydration releases calcium hydroxide and other alkali hydroxides into the pore solution, driving the pH up to about 12–13. This strongly alkaline environment is essential for cement chemistry and for steel reinforcement passivation. An acidic or neutral environment would have pH below or around 7, and amphoteric behavior doesn’t apply to the cement paste.

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