Geo-Scientist Prelims 2025 Chemistry Q33: What happens to the ionic product (K_w = 1.0 × 10⁻¹⁴) of water (1…

What happens to the ionic product (K_w = 1.0 × 10⁻¹⁴) of water (1 L) at 25°C when it is added with 1 mL of 0.1 N HCl followed by 1 mL of 0.1 N NaOH ?

1. (a) Ionic product remains constant without any significant change
2. (b) Ionic product first increases with addition of HCl due to increase in H⁺ and then decreases on addition of NaOH due to addition of same amount of OH⁻ to its original value
3. (c) Ionic product increases on addition of HCl [H⁺] and further increases due to addition of NaOH [OH⁻] as both factors are involved in the ionic product as K_w = [H⁺] [OH⁻]
4. (d) Ionic product of water decreases constantly as the ionization of water will decrease constantly on addition of any external electrolyte irrespective of being an acid or a base