1. What is the pOH Calculation?

The pOH calculation determines the hydroxide ion concentration in a solution using the relationship between pH and pOH. In aqueous solutions at 25°C, the sum of pH and pOH always equals 14.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the pOH formula:

Where:

• \( pH \) — The acidity/basicity measure of the solution
• \( pOH \) — The hydroxide ion concentration measure

Explanation: This fundamental relationship allows conversion between pH and pOH values for any aqueous solution at standard temperature.

3. Importance of pH and pOH Relationship

Details: Understanding the pH-pOH relationship is essential in chemistry, biology, environmental science, and many industrial processes where acid-base balance is critical.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter a valid pH value between 0 and 14. The calculator will compute the corresponding pOH value instantly.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why does pH + pOH always equal 14?
A: This relationship comes from the ion product of water (Kw = [H⁺][OH⁻] = 10⁻¹⁴ at 25°C), where pH = -log[H⁺] and pOH = -log[OH⁻].

Q2: Does this relationship hold at different temperatures?
A: No, the sum changes with temperature because the ion product of water (Kw) is temperature-dependent. At 37°C, pH + pOH ≈ 13.6.

Q3: What are typical pH and pOH values?
A: Acidic solutions have pH < 7 and pOH > 7, basic solutions have pH > 7 and pOH < 7, and neutral solutions have pH = pOH = 7.

Q4: How is pOH related to hydroxide ion concentration?
A: pOH = -log₁₀[OH⁻], where [OH⁻] is the hydroxide ion concentration in moles per liter.

Q5: When would I need to calculate pOH?
A: pOH calculations are essential in buffer solutions, titration curves, water treatment, and any application involving base concentration measurements.