pH and pOH are values derived from the concentration of either [H+] or [OH-] which generally describe the acidity or basicity of the solution. It is the -log of the concentration of H+ and OH- present in the solution. The sum of pH and pOH is equivalent to 14.
We can summarize the relationship as follows:
pH + pOH = 14
pH = -log [H+]
pOH = -log [OH-]
For pH = 4:
pOH = 14 - pH
pOH = 14 - 4
pOH = 10
pH = -log [H+]
4 = -log [H+]
[H+] = 10^(-4)
[H+] = 1.0x10^-4 = 0.0001
pOH = -log [OH-]
10 = -log [OH-]
[OH-] = 10^(-10)
[OH-] = 1.0x10^-10
pH > 7 basic
pH < 7 acidic
pH = 7 neutral
pH = 4 < 7 therefore the solution is acidic :)
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