Final answer:
A base with a pH of 12 is better to neutralize an acid compared to a base with a pH of 8 because it has a higher concentration of hydroxide ions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The base with a pH of 12 is better to neutralize an acid compared to the base with a pH of 8. A base with a higher pH is more alkaline and has a higher concentration of hydroxide ions (OH-) which are capable of neutralizing the hydrogen ions (H+) in the acid.
This is due to the higher concentration of OH- ions in the base with a pH of 12 compared to the base with a pH of 8. For example, if we have a strong acid with a low pH of 1, it would require a larger concentration of hydroxide ions to neutralize the acid completely.
Therefore, a base with a pH of 12 would have a higher concentration of hydroxide ions and would be more effective in neutralizing the acid.