My school notes say :
pH < pOH is acidic
pH > pOH is basic
Is this correct, I was thinking that if the pH is less than pOH than it was a basic solution
these values are negative logarithms
of the concentrations
so a bigger number means a lower concentration
No, your school notes are incorrect. The pH scale measures the acidity or alkalinity of a solution, while the pOH scale measures the concentration of hydroxide ions (OH-) in a solution.
In reality, the relationship between pH and pOH is as follows:
- If pH is less than pOH, it means that the concentration of H+ ions (or protons) is greater than the concentration of OH- ions. This indicates an acidic solution.
- If pH is greater than pOH, it means that the concentration of OH- ions is greater than the concentration of H+ ions. This indicates a basic (alkaline) solution.
- If pH is equal to pOH, it means that the concentrations of H+ and OH- ions are equal. This indicates a neutral solution, such as pure water.
To determine whether a solution is acidic or basic, you can use the pH scale directly. A pH value below 7 indicates acidity, while a pH value above 7 indicates alkalinity (basicity).