Kw variation with temperature

Question 1

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What is the ionic product of water(k_w ) formula)?

Answer 1

kw = [H⁺] [OH^-]

Question 2

Only factor that affects k_w

Answer 2

Temperature

Question 3

H₂O ⇌ H ⁺ + OH^-

What happens to k_w when temperature is increased?

ΔH > 0

Answer 3

• Forward reaction favoured
• Equilibrium shifts to product side
• Increases [H⁺] and [OH^-]
• ∴ k_w increases
• pH decreases
• But solution is no more acidic

pH no more acidic because [OH^-] increases too, balancing it.