Question

a solution containing hcl would likely have
○ a high ph and a low poh.
○ a low ph and a high poh.
○ a high ph and a high poh.
○ a low ph and a low poh

Explanation:

1. HCl (hydrochloric acid) is a strong acid. In an aqueous solution, strong acids dissociate completely to release \(H^+\) ions.
2. The pH of a solution is defined as \(pH = -\log[H^+]\). Since HCl increases the concentration of \(H^+\) ions (\([H^+]\) is high), the value of \(-\log[H^+]\) will be low, so the solution has a low pH (acids have pH < 7, and stronger acids have lower pH values closer to 0).
3. We know that for any aqueous solution at \(25^\circ C\), the relationship between pH and pOH is \(pH + pOH=14\) (derived from \(K_w = [H^+][OH^-]= 1\times 10^{- 14}\) at \(25^\circ C\), and taking negative logs of both sides gives \(pH + pOH = 14\)).
4. If pH is low (because of high \([H^+]\) from HCl), then from \(pH + pOH = 14\), pOH must be high (since \(pOH=14 - pH\), and a smaller pH value will lead to a larger pOH value). For example, if pH = 2 (low), then pOH = 14 - 2 = 12 (high). So a solution with HCl (an acid) will have a low pH and a high pOH.

Answer:

B. a low pH and a high pOH.