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Anonymous
Anonymous asked in Science & MathematicsChemistry · 1 decade ago

Hydroxide ion concentration pH of Solution?

if the hydroxide ion concentration

is 1*10^-23 M

what is the pH of the solution?

2 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    This seems like an impossible low [OH-} In fact I would say an impossibly low concentration: The acid concentration must be extremely high. Impossibly high!! But let us persevere:

    pOH = -log [OH-]

    pOH = -log (1*10^-23)

    pOH = 23

    pH = 14.00-pOH

    pH = 14.00-23.00

    pH = -9.00

    Is it possible to have a negative pH = yes, if the [H+] > 1.00. But a pH of -9.00 would require [H+]:

    [H+] = 10^-pH

    [H+] = 10^-(-9)

    [H+] = 10^9M

    It is not possible to get such an acid solution. Please check you submission for possible error.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Since you need to find the pOH using:

    pOH= -log [OH-]

    You can't do this calculation, since pOH will be within 0-14. In your case:

    pOH= -log 1x10^-23

    =23

    The pOH cannot be 23, becuase when you use this to find pH you get:

    pH= 14- pOH

    =14-23

    =-9

    You can't get -9 pH, sorry :)

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