Calculating pH and POH: NaOH in Water Solution

[Nelo]

Homework Statement

NaOH is an example of a strong base. if 0.45g of NaOH is mixed with 500ml of water what is the


[OH]
[H3O+]
pH

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

so, i calculating moles thru molar mass and divided by 0.5 to get mol/l. put that as the concentration of the hydroxyl. (0.0225)

What i don't understand is how to get the hydronium ion concentration. I know that its going to involve doing the -log of 0.025 to get the pH. Which is 1.4. But why do i do 14-1.4 then do the antilog of that to get the concentration of the hydronium ion?

I know how its solved, My real question is... why do i do 14- (ph of hydroxl) to find the concentration of the hydronium?

 

[Hells]

Because water's autohydronolysis has the equilibrium constant of 10^-14
[OH-]*[H3O]=10^-14 <--> pOH- + pH = 14

WHen you pour a base into it, a negligible part of that base will be converted to water until the equilibrium condition is met

 

[Borek]

More datils: water ion product.