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Why is H+ sometimes written as H3O+ in equations?

Why are neutralization reactions written with H3O+ instead of H+?

If a free hydrogen ion encounters a water molecule, it attacks the unshared electron pairs on the oxygen in the water molecule and forms a hydronium ion, H3O+. The chemical bond that forms between the water and hydrogen ion is covalent and very strong. In an aqueous solution, essentially all of the H+ exists as H3O+.

When people write "H+(aq)" in a chemical equation, it's understood that they really mean "H3O+(aq)". Writing hydrogen ions rather than hydronium ions makes neutralization equations a little easier to read and balance.

Author: Fred Senese senese@antoine.frostburg.edu



General Chemistry Online! Why is H^+^ sometimes written as H_3_O^+^ in equations?

Copyright © 1997-2010 by Fred Senese
Comments & questions to fsenese@frostburg.edu
Last Revised 02/23/18.URL: http://antoine.frostburg.edu/chem/senese/101/reactions/faq/hydronium.shtml