Boy, am I getting myself confused! My text tells me that “adding a base to any solution raises the pH of the solution”, and that makes sense, but what do I get when I add NaOH to H20? Don’t I get H3O, which would be lowering the pH? I realize that this is extremely fundamental, and it is very sad for a poor soul like me to get so lost so easily.
Another thought, when adding a strong base and weak acid, the solution is basic because the acid forms it’s conjugate base, not because of the addition of the strong base (strong bases neutralize) Am I correct in my understanding of that?
If anyone can tell me where my thought processes are going wrong, please do! I think that I am probably getting stuff twisted around somehow, but I need some help to straighten it all out.
Pam