Final answer:
To calculate the pH of a strong polyhydroxyl ionic basic solution, like that of NaOH, determine the molarity to find the [OH-], then calculate the pOH by taking the negative logarithm of the [OH-] and subtract this value from 14 to get the pH.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the pH of a strong polystyrene basic solution, you first need to determine the concentration of hydroxide ions (OH-) in the solution. A strong base like sodium hydroxide (NaOH) dissociates completely in water, so the concentration of OH- ions will be equal to the initial concentration of the base. Once you have the concentration of hydroxide ions, you calculate the pOH by taking the negative logarithm of the hydroxide ion concentration. The pH is then found by subtracting the pOH from 14. For example, to find the pH of a solution prepared by dissolving 1.0 g of NaOH into enough water to make 1.0 L of solution, you would first calculate the molarity of NaOH, then find the [OH-], followed by calculating the pOH, and finally, you would subtract that value from 14 to determine the pH.