Kw (ion product of water)

The ion product of water, denoted as Kw, is a measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions (H⁺) and hydroxide ions (OH⁻) in pure water at a specific temperature, typically 25°C (77°F). At this temperature, Kw is equal to 1.0 x 10⁻¹⁴. This means that in pure water, the product of these ion concentrations is always constant, reflecting the balance between acidity and alkalinity. Changes in temperature or the addition of acids or bases can disrupt this balance, affecting the pH level and, consequently, the water's behavior in chemical reactions.