Why is pOH important?

1 Answer
Mar 28, 2018

I will try to explain.

Explanation:

#pH# and #pOH# go hand in hand and make up a fundamental relationship in acid-base chemistry:

#pH+pOH=pKw#

Where #pKw=14# at 25 degrees Celcius, though the value varies with temperature.

This is important since when doing calculations we typically answer in pH and this relationship allows us to relate the #pH# which is the negative logarithm of #H^+# concentration, against #pOH# which is the negative logarithm of the #OH^-# concentration in a solution.

This property allows us to say something about both the Hydroxide concentration and the proton concentration in a solution.