Answer
(a) Acidic
(b) Neutral
(c) Basic
Work Step by Step
** Remember, higher pOH values mean low basicity, and low pOH values mean high basicity.
At 25$^{\circ}$:
$pH + pOH = 14$
so
$pOH = 14 - pH$
(a)
If pOH is greater than 7, then:
$14 - pH \gt 7$
$14 - 7 \gt pH$
$7 \gt pH$
$pH \lt 7$
- If pH is less than 7, and pOH is greater than 7:
$pOH > pH$, so the solution is acidic.
(b)
$14 - pH = 7$
$pH = 14 - 7$
$pH = 7$
Therefore : $pH = pOH$: Neutral
(c)
$14 - pH < 7$
$7 < pH$
$pH > 7$
- If pH is greater than 7, and pOH is less:
$pOH < pH$, so the solution is basic.
