Question

Which of the following statements correctly describes the hydronium-hydroxide balance in the given solution?

A. In acids, [OH^-] is greater than [ H3O^+].
B. In bases, [OH^-] = [ H3O^+].
C. In neutral solutions, [ H3O^+] = [ H2O].
D. In bases, [OH^-] is greater than [ H3O^+].
E. In bases, [OH^-] is less than [ H3O^+].

Answer 1

The correct statement describing the hydronium-hydroxide balance in a given solution is that in bases, the concentration of hydroxide ions ([OH-]) is greater than the concentration of hydronium ions ([H3O+]). Neutral solutions have equal concentrations of [H3O+] and [OH-], each being 1 × 10-7 M at 25 °C.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct statement that describes the hydronium-hydroxide balance in a given solution is D. In bases, [OH-] is greater than [H3O+]. For the other options: A is incorrect because in acids, the hydronium concentration ([H3O+]) is greater than the hydroxide concentration ([OH-]).

B is incorrect because in bases, [OH-] is greater than [H3O+], not equal. C is incorrect because [H3O+] is equal to [OH-] in neutral solutions, not [H2O]. E is incorrect since it states the opposite of the correct relationship in bases.

A neutral solution is when [H3O+] = [OH-] and both are 1 × 10-7 M at 25 °C. In acidic solutions, [H3O+] is greater than 1 × 10-7 M and in basic solutions, [OH-] is greater than 1 × 10-7 M, making [H3O+] less than 1 × 10-7 M.