Here's why:

* pH Scale: The pH scale measures the acidity or alkalinity of a substance. It ranges from 0 to 14, with:

* 0-6 being acidic

* 7 being neutral

* 8-14 being basic (alkaline)

* Water's pH: Pure water has a pH of 7, making it neutral.

* Autoionization: Water molecules can actually act as both a weak acid and a weak base. This is called autoionization, where water molecules donate and accept protons (H+). However, the donation and acceptance occur at equal rates, resulting in a neutral solution.