Answer :
To answer the question about the ratio of hydroxide ions (OH⁻) to hydrogen ions (H⁺) in distilled water, let's break it down step-by-step:
1. Understanding Distilled Water:
- Distilled water is pure water that has been boiled and re-condensed to remove impurities and dissolved solids.
- It has a neutral pH, which is 7. This neutrality indicates a balance between hydrogen ions (H⁺) and hydroxide ions (OH⁻).
2. What Does Neutral pH Mean?
- The pH scale measures how acidic or basic a solution is. A pH of 7 is neutral, meaning it is neither acidic nor basic.
- In a neutral solution, the concentration of hydrogen ions (H⁺) is equal to the concentration of hydroxide ions (OH⁻).
3. Ratio of Ions:
- Since the pH of distilled water is 7, the concentration of H⁺ ions is equal to the concentration of OH⁻ ions.
- The ratio of hydroxide ions to hydrogen ions in distilled water is therefore 1:1.
4. Conclusion:
- In distilled water, the equal presence of hydrogen and hydroxide ions results in a 1:1 ratio. This reflects its neutral nature.
So, distilled water demonstrates a 1:1 ratio of hydroxide ions to hydrogen ions, confirming its balanced and neutral pH. This understanding helps us conclude that in distilled water, H⁺ and OH⁻ ions are present in equal amounts, maintaining the necessary balance for neutrality.
1. Understanding Distilled Water:
- Distilled water is pure water that has been boiled and re-condensed to remove impurities and dissolved solids.
- It has a neutral pH, which is 7. This neutrality indicates a balance between hydrogen ions (H⁺) and hydroxide ions (OH⁻).
2. What Does Neutral pH Mean?
- The pH scale measures how acidic or basic a solution is. A pH of 7 is neutral, meaning it is neither acidic nor basic.
- In a neutral solution, the concentration of hydrogen ions (H⁺) is equal to the concentration of hydroxide ions (OH⁻).
3. Ratio of Ions:
- Since the pH of distilled water is 7, the concentration of H⁺ ions is equal to the concentration of OH⁻ ions.
- The ratio of hydroxide ions to hydrogen ions in distilled water is therefore 1:1.
4. Conclusion:
- In distilled water, the equal presence of hydrogen and hydroxide ions results in a 1:1 ratio. This reflects its neutral nature.
So, distilled water demonstrates a 1:1 ratio of hydroxide ions to hydrogen ions, confirming its balanced and neutral pH. This understanding helps us conclude that in distilled water, H⁺ and OH⁻ ions are present in equal amounts, maintaining the necessary balance for neutrality.
