Final answer:
The concentration of hydroxide ions in a solution at pH 10.26 is approximately 1.82 × 10-4 M, calculated through the inverse exponential function of the pOH, which was found by subtracting the pH from 14.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the concentration of hydroxide ions (OH-) at a pH of 10.26, we first need to calculate the pOH. The pH and pOH of a solution add up to 14.00. Therefore, we calculate the pOH as:
pOH = 14.00 - pH = 14.00 - 10.26 = 3.74
Now, using the relationship between pOH and the hydroxide ion concentration, which is pOH = -log[OH-], we can find the OH- concentration:
[OH-] = 10-pOH = 10-3.74
Thus, the concentration of hydroxide ions is:
[OH-] ≈ 1.82 × 10-4 M.