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When a base is mixed into water, the pH of the water increases.

The pH measures the hydrogen activity in the water. During the self-ionization of water, an H2O molecule loses one of its hydrogen nuclei (deprotonization), and becomes a hydroxide ion, or OH-. The free hydrogen nucleus immediately protonates another water molecule, which becomes hydronium, or H3O+.

The balance between hydroxide and hydronium is what pH measures. When the pH increases (making the water more basic), there is an increase in hydroxide, and a decrease in hydronium. When the pH decreases (making the water more acidic), there is a decrease in hydroxide and an increase in hydronium.

Bases affect this process by accepting protons or donating hydroxide ions. When the bases accept hydrogen protons, this lowers the amount of hydronium in the water, thus affecting the pH. Adding hydroxide ions also affects the pH.

Acids do the opposite, they can donate protons or accept hydroxide ions.

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12y ago

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