What is the equation for calculating pOH?

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Enhance your knowledge and skills for the UCF CHM2046 Chemistry Fundamentals II Test 3. Dive into multiple choice questions with explanations and get confident for success in your exam!

The equation for calculating pOH is based on the concentration of hydroxide ions (OH⁻) in a solution. pOH is defined as the negative logarithm of the hydroxide ion concentration, which is mathematically expressed as:

pOH = -log[OH⁻]

This relationship is pivotal in acid-base chemistry since pOH is used to determine the basicity of a solution, similar to how pH measures acidity. Therefore, option C reflects the correct relationship between hydroxide ion concentration and pOH.

Understanding this concept is essential because pOH, together with pH, is used to describe the acidic or basic nature of a solution. The sum of pH and pOH is equal to 14 in aqueous solutions at 25°C, which connects pOH to other related calculations in acid-base chemistry.