Chapter 12: Problem 16
What is the pOH range for a basic solution?
Short Answer
Expert verified
The pOH range for a basic solution is less than 7.
Step by step solution
01
Understanding the pOH Scale
The pOH scale measures the hydroxide ion concentration in a solution, similar to how the pH scale measures the hydrogen ion concentration. The pOH scale ranges from 0 to 14, where lower values indicate higher hydroxide ion concentration (more basic) and higher values indicate lower hydroxide ion concentration (less basic or more acidic).
02
Defining a Basic Solution
A basic solution is any solution with a pH greater than 7. In terms of the pOH scale, this corresponds to a pOH less than 7 because pH and pOH are related by the equation: \[ \text{pH} + \text{pOH} = 14 \] This means as pH increases above 7, pOH must decrease below 7.
03
Determining the Basic Range for pOH
Since basic solutions have a pH greater than 7, their corresponding pOH values will be less than 7 due to the relation \[ \text{pH} + \text{pOH} = 14 \] . Hence, the pOH range for a basic solution is any value less than 7.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
pH Scale
The pH scale is a measurement used to determine the acidity or basicity of a solution. Ranging from 0 to 14, it indicates the concentration of hydrogen ions (\[ [H^+] \]) in the solution. A pH value of 7 is considered neutral, meaning the solution has an equal concentration of hydrogen and hydroxide ions.
- Values lower than 7 indicate acidic solutions, with higher hydrogen ion concentrations.
- Values higher than 7 indicate basic solutions, where hydroxide ions are more concentrated.
pOH Scale
Much like the pH scale, the pOH scale is used to measure the concentration of hydroxide ions (\[ [OH^-] \]) in a solution. It also ranges from 0 to 14, but operates opposite to the pH scale.
- Lower pOH values (below 7) indicate basic solutions with higher hydroxide ion concentrations.
- Higher pOH values (above 7) indicate acidic solutions with lower hydroxide ion concentrations.
Hydroxide Ion Concentration
The concentration of hydroxide ions in a solution plays a crucial role in determining whether a solution is acidic or basic. It is closely linked to the pOH scale:
- High hydroxide ion concentration corresponds to low pOH values, indicating a basic solution.
- Low hydroxide ion concentration corresponds to high pOH values, indicating an acidic solution.
Acidic vs. Basic Solutions
Understanding the difference between acidic and basic solutions is fundamental in chemistry:
- Acidic solutions have a pH less than 7, high hydrogen ion concentration, and are characterized by a pOH greater than 7.
- Basic solutions have a pH greater than 7, high hydroxide ion concentration, and are characterized by a pOH less than 7.