Here's why:
* NaOH is a strong base: Bases are known for producing hydroxide ions (OH-) in solution.
* Dissociation in water: When NaOH dissolves in water, it dissociates into Na+ ions and OH- ions. The reaction is:
NaOH(s) → Na+(aq) + OH-(aq)
* No H+ ions: Since the reaction only produces sodium and hydroxide ions, there are no H+ ions present in the solution.
Important Note: While NaOH itself doesn't contain H+ ions, solutions containing NaOH can have very low concentrations of H+ ions due to the auto-ionization of water. However, the concentration of OH- ions will be significantly higher, making the solution basic.