aqueous cation H₃O⁺, the type of oxonium ion produced by protonation of water
Factsheet
Names IUPAC name
oxonium
Other names
hydronium ion
oxonium
Other names
hydronium ion
Identifiers
CAS Number 13968-08-6 Y
Names IUPAC name
oxonium
Other names
hydronium ion
oxonium
Other names
hydronium ion
Identifiers
CAS Number 13968-08-6 Y
Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Hydronium
Hydronium - Wikipedia
4 weeks ago - Spectroscopic evidence from well-defined IR spectra overwhelmingly supports the Stoyanov cation as the predominant form. For this reason, it has been suggested that wherever possible, the symbol H+(aq) should be used instead of the hydronium ion.
American Chemical Society
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Hydronium ion - American Chemical Society
November 19, 2025 - All acidic aqueous solutions contain protonated water, known commonly as the hydronium ion (H3O+). Brønsted acids release one or more of their protons (hydrogen ions), which combine with water molecules.
Videos
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H+ vs H3O+ (Hydrogen cation vs Hydronium ion) - YouTube
01:37
How to Write the Chemical Formula for Hydronium ion - YouTube
The Hydronium Ion
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H3O+ Lewis Structure (Hydronium Ion) - YouTube
06:48
Hydronium Ion | Definition, Formula & Calculation - Video | Study.com
Write the formula of hydronium ion. - Chemistry
What is the hydronium ion formula?
Hydronium is a cation that has a formula of H3O+. It often is made from a water molecule combined with a positively charged hydrogen ion.
study.com
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Hydronium Ion | Definition, Formula & Calculation - Lesson | Study.com
Is hydronium a cation?
Yes. Hydronium is a cation that has a formula of H3O+. Since it has a positive charge, it classifies as a cation.
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Hydronium Ion | Definition, Formula & Calculation - Lesson | Study.com
Is H3O+ a cation?
Yes. Hydronium is a cation that has a formula of H3O+. Since it has a positive charge, it classifies as a cation.
study.com
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Hydronium Ion | Definition, Formula & Calculation - Lesson | Study.com
Top answer 1 of 3
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Final Answer: The hydronium ion concentration is represented by the symbol [ H 3 O + ] . It is commonly expressed in molarity or as pH, calculated using the formula pH = − lo g [ H 3 O + ] . Understanding this concept is essential in determining the acidity of solutions.
; Explanation: The symbol for hydronium ion concentration is [ H 3 O + ] . Hydronium ions form when an acid dissolves in water, increasing the concentration of hydronium ions in the solution. The concentration of hydronium ions is commonly expressed either in molarity (M), which is moles of ion per liter of solution, or as pH, which is calculated using the formula:
pH = − lo g [ H 3 O + ] This logarithmic scale helps to express the concentration of hydronium ions when they are very small, as is often the case in most aqueous solutions.
When working with diluted acid solutions, for instance, a solution with a hydronium ion concentration of 0.001 M would have a pH calculated as:
pH = − lo g ( 0.001 ) = 3 This means the solution is acidic.
In summary, the concentration of hydronium ions, [ H 3 O + ] , is an important factor in understanding the acidity of solutions and can be converted to pH for easier interpretation. Additionally, concentrations of hydronium ions and hydroxide ions are inversely related in water, meaning if the concentration of one increases, the other decreases.
In pure water at 25 °C, hydronium ion concentration is equal to hydroxide ion concentration, leading to a neutral pH of 7. The relationship can be understood through the auto-ionization of water, where:
[ H 3 O + ] [ O H − ] = 1 0 − 14 (at 25 °C) This equation shows that as [ H 3 O + ] increases, [ O H − ] must decrease to maintain this constant.
; Examples & Evidence: For example, if a solution has a hydronium ion concentration of 0.01 M, its pH would be 2, indicating a strongly acidic solution. Conversely, if a solution is neutral with a pH of 7, both hydronium and hydroxide concentrations would be at 1 × 1 0 − 7 M .
This information is based on fundamental concepts in chemistry regarding acid-base theory, hydronium ion dynamics, and the pH scale, which are standard in high school chemistry curricula.
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The symbol for hydronium ion concentration is H+. There are quite a few relationships between [H+] and [OH−] ions. And because there is a large range of number between 10 to 10-15 M, the pH is used. pH = -log[H+] and pOH = -log[OH−]. In aqueous solutions, [H+ ][OH- ] = 10-14. From here we can derive the values of each concentration.
Chemistry LibreTexts
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The Hydronium Ion - Chemistry LibreTexts
January 30, 2023 - Water has the ability to attract H+ ions because it is a polar molecule. This means that it has a partial charge, in this case the charge is negative. The partial charge is caused by the fact that oxygen is more electronegative than hydrogen. This means that in the bond between hydrogen and oxygen, oxygen "pulls" harder on the shared electrons thus causing a partial negative charge on the molecule and causing it to be attracted to the positive charge of H+ to form hydronium.
Wikidoc
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Hydronium - wikidoc
Hydronium is the cation that forms from water in the presence of hydrogen ions. These hydrons do not exist in a free state: they are extremely reactive and are solvated by water. An acid is generally the source of these hydrons; however, since water can behave as both an acid and a base, hydroniums ...
Fiveable
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Hydronium Ion - (AP Chemistry) - Vocab, Definition, Explanations | Fiveable | Fiveable
A hydronium ion is a water molecule (H2O) that has gained an extra hydrogen ion (H+), making its formula H3O+. It's often present in solutions where water is interacting with acids.
Termium Plus
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H3O ION [1 record]
Le proton en solution aqueuse peut donner lieu à plusieurs écritures : - H[exposant]+(aq); cette écriture conventionnelle, simple et cohérente avec celle utilisée pour les autres ions, facilite l'écriture de nombreuses équations chimiques. - H3O+ (l'IUPAC recommande l'appellation oxonium). L'écriture H3O+(aq) n'est pas nécessaire. 6, record 1, French, - ion oxonium
Termium Plus
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TERMIUM Plus®
Le proton en solution aqueuse peut donner lieu à plusieurs écritures : - H[exposant]+(aq); cette écriture conventionnelle, simple et cohérente avec celle utilisée pour les autres ions, facilite l'écriture de nombreuses équations chimiques. - H3O+ (l'IUPAC recommande l'appellation oxonium). L'écriture H3O+(aq) n'est pas nécessaire. 6, record 1, French, - ion oxonium
Termium Plus
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hydronium ion [1 record] - TERMIUM Plus® — Search - TERMIUM Plus®
Most of the time, the hydronium ion, symbol H3O+, is called hydrogen ion, symbol H[plus], even if the notion described by this term (hydrogen ion) represents not an hydrogen ion but "a proton (hydrogen ion) combined with a molecule of water."
Termium Plus
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HYDRONIUM [1 fiche] - TERMIUM Plus® — Recherche
Le proton en solution aqueuse peut donner lieu à plusieurs écritures : - H[exposant]+(aq); cette écriture conventionnelle, simple et cohérente avec celle utilisée pour les autres ions, facilite l'écriture de nombreuses équations chimiques. - H3O+ (l'IUPAC recommande l'appellation oxonium). L'écriture H3O+(aq) n'est pas nécessaire. 6, fiche 1, Français, - ion oxonium
Termium Plus
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ion hydronium
Most of the time, the hydronium ion, symbol H3O+, is called hydrogen ion, symbol H[plus], even if the notion described by this term (hydrogen ion) represents not an hydrogen ion but "a proton (hydrogen ion) combined with a molecule of water."
Termium Plus
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ION HYDRONIUM [1 fiche]
Most of the time, the hydronium ion, symbol H3O+, is called hydrogen ion, symbol H[plus], even if the notion described by this term (hydrogen ion) represents not an hydrogen ion but "a proton (hydrogen ion) combined with a molecule of water."