Question

What happens to the concentration of both H3O+ and OH- ions as water is added to a base?

Answer 1

Answer:

The concentration of H₃O⁺ ions increase whereas the concentration of the OH⁻ decreases.

Explanation:

The water, H₂O, has its own equilibrium thus:

2H₂O(l) ⇄ OH⁻(aq) + H₃O⁺(aq)

Where the water equilibrium constant, Kw, is defined as:

Kw = 1x10⁻¹⁴ = [OH⁻] [H₃O⁺]

The addition of a base represents the increasing of [OH⁻]. that means the concentration of OH⁻ ions.

Based on LeCh principle, in an equilibrium, the addition of a product produce the decreasing in concentration of the other products trying to counteract the effect, that means the concentration of H₃O⁺ ions decreases.