Describe water autoprotolysis

[Kayli S-1A]

How would you describe water autoprotolysis to derive pH + pOH = pKw

[Myracle Franco 2G]

Water autoprotolysis is basically when two h2o molecules create [OH-] and [H₃O]⁺ or [H+]. But in terms of pH + pOH = pKw, you know pH is -log([H₃O]⁺ or [H+]) and PoH is -log([OH-]). Together the sum of PoH and PH should be 14 at room temperature.

Kw=([H₃O]⁺ or [H+])*[OH-], which is equal to 10^-14, then take the -log of each side, and you are left with -log([H₃O]⁺ or [H+]) - -log([OH-]) = 14.