Lye has a pH of 13. Explain what this means in relation to the ions it gives off and where it falls on the pH?

Question

Lye has a pH of 13. Explain what this means in relation to the ions it gives off and where it falls on the pH scale in relation to pure water

Answer 1

A pH of 13 means that it has a hydronium ion molar concentration of 10^(-13), that's 0.0000000000001.  This also means that its molar concentration of hydroxide ions is 10^(-1), or 0.1.  Therefore, lye produces many more hydroxide (OH-) ions than it does hydronium (H+), making it a base.  Pure water has a pH of 7 and therefore produces equal amounts of hydroxide and hydronium ions.