What is the logarithmic concentration of the hydroxide ion in aqueous solution?

1 Answer
anor277
Jan 26, 2016

I presume you mean #pOH#?

Explanation:

We would calculate #pOH# the same way we calculate #pH#. That is #pOH# #=# #-log_(10)[OH^-]#, where #[OH^-]# is the concentration of hydroxide ion.

Given that #10^-14# #=# #[H_3O^+][OH^-]#,

then #log_(10)10^(-14)# #=# #log_(10)[H_3O^+]# #+# #log_(10)[HO^-]#

And thus #14# #=# #pH + pOH# (because by definition #log_(10)10^(-14)# #=# #-14#.

So you need to find hydroxide (or acid) concentration, and take its negative logarithm to the base 10.

Related questions
See all questions in pH
Impact of this question
2436 views around the world
You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License