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  • Calculating pH of Sodium Hydroxide Solutions: A Step-by-Step Guide
    Here's how to calculate the pH of a 10 mol/L sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution:

    Understanding the Concepts

    * Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH): A strong base that completely dissociates in water, meaning it releases all its hydroxide ions (OH-) into solution.

    * pH: A measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14:

    * 0-6: Acidic

    * 7: Neutral

    * 8-14: Basic (alkaline)

    * pOH: A measure of hydroxide ion concentration. pOH and pH are related by the equation: pH + pOH = 14

    Calculations

    1. Find the pOH:

    * Since NaOH is a strong base, the concentration of hydroxide ions ([OH-]) is equal to the concentration of NaOH, which is 10 mol/L.

    * pOH = -log[OH-] = -log(10) = -1

    2. Find the pH:

    * pH + pOH = 14

    * pH = 14 - pOH = 14 - (-1) = 15

    Important Note: A pH of 15 is extremely basic and is outside the typical range of the pH scale. This is because the concentration of the sodium hydroxide solution is very high. Such a high concentration is rarely encountered in everyday situations.

    In Summary:

    The pH of a 10 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution is 15.

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