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What is produced when a base is dissolved in water?

Answer 1

Noah Aldrich

#"Hydroxide ions...?"#

Water is known to experience quantifiable autoprotolysis, i.e.

#2H_2O(l) rightleftharpoonsH_3O^+ + HO^-#

For which under standard conditions of #298*K#, and #100*kPa#..

#K_w=10^-14-=[HO^-][H_3O^+]#

And using standard logarithmic terms... #14=pH+pOH#, where #pH=-log_10[H_3O^+]#, and #pOH=-log_10[HO^-]#

Of course, when we add a soluble hydroxide to solution, for instance #KOH(s)# or #NaOH(s)# WE INCREASE #[HO^-]#...and increase #pH# BUT NUMERICALLY DECREASE #pOH#...

A base, like ammonia, which reacts in equilibrium with water, COULD be added.

#NH_3(aq) +H_2O(l) rightleftharpoons NH_4^+ + HO^-#

Here, since the reaction is NOT quantitative, and governed by an equilibrium constant, #K_b#, significant concentration of ammonia will remain in solution....#pH# will be elevated above #7# due to the presence of SOME #HO^-# ions....

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Answer 2

Olivia Anton

When a base is dissolved in water, it produces hydroxide ions (OH-) and forms a basic solution.

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Answer from HIX Tutor

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.