What is meant by the self-ionization of water?

1 Answer
anor277
Jan 15, 2018

It refers to the autoprotolysis reaction....

Explanation:

#2H_2O(l) rightleftharpoons H_3O^+ + HO^-#

Water undergoes a measurable self-ionization....and under standard conditions, we write....

#K_"autoprotolysis of water"=10^-14=[H_3O^+][HO^-]#

And we can further use this expression by taking #log_10# of both sides.....

#pK_a=14=pH+pOH#...where #pH=-log_10[H_3O^+]#, and #pOH=-log_10[HO^-]#

Under non-standard conditions, i.e. #T=373*K#, how would you expect the equilibrium to evolve? Would it shift left or right?

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