Understanding the Concepts
* KOH is a strong base: This means it completely dissociates in water, releasing hydroxide ions (OH-) into solution.
* pH and pOH: pH measures the acidity of a solution, while pOH measures its basicity. They are related by the equation: pH + pOH = 14
Calculations
1. Find the pOH:
* Since KOH is a strong base, the concentration of OH- ions is equal to the concentration of KOH.
* Therefore, [OH-] = 2 M
* pOH = -log[OH-] = -log(2) ≈ -0.301
2. Calculate the pH:
* pH + pOH = 14
* pH = 14 - pOH = 14 - (-0.301) ≈ 14.301
Result
The pH of a 2M potassium hydroxide solution is approximately 14.301. This indicates a very strongly basic solution.
Important Note:
* The pH scale is logarithmic, meaning each whole number change represents a tenfold change in acidity or basicity.
* Always handle strong bases with caution, as they can cause severe burns.
