I would take this approach (similar to Grundalizer)
Ca(OH)
2 dissolves in water to provide two types of ion: Ca
2+ and OH
-It is the
OH- that acts as a base by taking a proton from water
H20.
Water is acting as the acid in this case by donating the proton to the
OH-.The equilibrium equation is
OH- +
H20 H20 +
OH- Cunningly, the species are the same on both sides. In the H
+/OH
- equilibrium, OH
- dominates, so the solution is strongly alkaline. Ca
2+ does not appear (it specatates) and is neither acid nor base.
Clive