Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
This is the equilibrium constant for water's self-ionization reaction. It's equal to [H+][OH-] at 25°C, approximately 1 x 10^-14 mol²/L².
Related terms
Le Chatelier's Principle: This principle states that if a dynamic equilibrium is disturbed by changing the conditions, the position of equilibrium shifts to counteract the change.
Ion Product of Water: Another term for Kw, it represents the product of molar concentration of hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions in water.
pH Scale: A logarithmic scale used to specify the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. It's related to Kw as pH + pOH = 14 at 25°C.