Answer
pOH is defined as the negative of the log (base 10) of the hydroxide ion concentration:
$$pOH = -log[OH^-]$$
Acidic solution: $pOH \gt 7$
Neutral solution: $pOH = 7$
Basic solution: $pOH \lt 7$
Work Step by Step
See definition of pOH on the bottom of page 735.
Knowing that $pH + pOH = 14$, and acidic solutions have $pH \lt 7$:
$$pH = 14 - pOH $$ $$14 - pOH \lt 7$$ $$14 - 7 \lt pOH$$ $$7 \lt pOH$$ $$pOH \gt 7$$
For neutral solutions: pH = 7:
$$pH + pOH = 14$$ $$7 + pOH = 14$$ $$pOH = 14 - 7 = 7$$
For basic solutions: pH $\gt$ 7:
$$pH + pOH = 14$$ $$pH = 14 - pOH$$ $$14 - pOH \gt 7$$ $$14 - 7 \gt pOH$$ $$7 \gt pOH$$ $$pOH \lt 7$$
