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To understand solvent levelling and why this occurs in water you first need to understand the chemistry of water. Water is amphoteric. This means that it can donate or receive protons.

If water is a solvent to any acid stronger than H3O+ ( e.g: HCl) then the strong acid will donate its proton (H+) to water producing H3O+ (water is receiving a proton)

Similarly if water was to act as a solvent to any base stronger than OH- then it will take a proton away from a water molecule producing OH- (water donates a proton)

Therefore the strongest acid and base that can exist in water is H3O+ and OH-

This is an example of the levelling effect of water.

But this isn't the full picture. Because of the solvent levelling that occurs with water, water effectively controls the PH range that the acid or base can achieve. This range is PH 0-14. Why?

We know that: (The acid dissociation constant of water) Ka= 1 x 10^-7

PH(water)= -log(1x10^-7) = 7.00

We also know that in water: PH + POH = 14.00

Therefore, In water, PH of a substance must be between O and 14.

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Q: Explain what is meant with the levelling effect of water?
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