Question

# (a) Do basic solutions also have H+ (aq) ions? If yes, then why are they basic? (b) When a solution becomes more acidic, does the pH get higher or lower?

Solution

## (a) When a base is dissolved in water then it will produce H⁺ ions as wells as OH⁻ ions. If H⁺ ion concentration is more than OH⁻ ion then the solution is acidic. And they show basic character if OH⁻ ion concentration is more than H⁺ ion concentration. That means they are basic due to the presence of more OH- ions. (b) pH decreases because. The concentration of the solution is usually very small such as 2.4 x 10^-3  As concentration increases, the power of "10" moves towards the positive value but never quite gets there...because only a small amount can dissolve (and dissociate into ions) in water (usually less than 1 mole per litre, but there are some rare instances when this can be achieved or exceeded)  Taking the "negative log" of a number converts the negative power of "10" to a positive number.  Because we cannot quite get to "1 x 10^0", we cannot quite get to pH 0.  As the pH moves from 0 to larger numbers, the concentration of hydrogen ions decreases, and pH moves towards the neutral 7 or alkaline 14.

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