What does the brackets around [H+] and [OH-] represent and what does it do?? (this is in context to acids and bases)

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What does the brackets around [H+] and [OH-] represent and what does it do?? (this is in context to acids and bases)

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Answer 1 · 2018-04-15T05:24:05

In this context, the brackets means $concentration$ $"concentration"$ ...

Explanation:

It is tempting to assume that $H O^{-}$ $HO^-$ and $H_{3} O^{+}$ $H_3O^+$ are actual species in aqueous species. As far as anyone knows these species are CLUSTERS of water molecules LESS or PLUS a proton...

And so $H O^{-} / H^{+}$ $HO^(-)"/"H^+$ or $H O^{-} / H_{3} O^{+}$ $HO^(-)"/"H_3O^+$ are likely to be $H_{5} O_{3}^{+}$ $H_5O_3^(+)$ or $H_{7} O_{4}^{-}$ $H_7O_4^-$ or ...or something...we use the $H O^{-} / H_{3} O^{+}$ $HO^(-)"/"H_3O^+$ as a label of convenience...the acidium species is a water cluster associated with an extra proton, and the hydroxide species is a water cluster LESS a proton. And if you play rugby think of $H^{+}$ $H^+$ as the ball in a maul.

But certainly, when we do acid-base titrations, we can find the equivalence of acids and bases, straightforwardly and quantitatively, using very simple equipment, calibrated burettes, and standard indicatos.

And we use the brackets to designate a concentration term: $[H_{3} O^{+}] [H O^{-}] = 10^{- 14}$ $[H_3O^+][HO^-]=10^(-14)$ under standard conditions. And for simplicity, when we see $[H_{3} O^{+}]$ $[H_3O^+]$ or $[N O_{3}^{-}]$ $[NO_3^(-)]$ or $[C l^{-}]$ $[Cl^-]$ , we mean the concentration of acidium ion, or nitrate ion, or chloride in $m o l \cdot L^{- 1}$ $mol*L^-1$ ...

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What does the brackets around [H+] and [OH-] represent and what does it do?? (this is in context to acids and bases)

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Explanation:

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