What happens to hydrogen ions in a base ? and what is the equation ?

1 Answer
Apr 15, 2018

The hydrogen ions react with the hydroxide formed from the base to form water.

Explanation:

Hydrogen ions (or technically, Oxonium ions - #H_3O^+#) react with the hydroxide ions (#OH^-#) in a base to form water.

#OH^(-)(aq)+H_3O^(+)(aq) -> 2H_2O(l)#

So adding hydrogen ions to a basic solution will cause the #pH# of the basic solution to decrease as you neutralize the #OH^-# ions, which are resonsible for giving a solution high #pH#.