Hydronium Formation

A bare proton cannot remain alone in water; it immediately attaches to a water molecule to form hydronium, which then moves by proton hand-off.

$${\mathrm{H}}^{+}+{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\to {\mathrm{H}}_3{\mathrm{O}}^{+}$$

Variables

Symbol	Meaning	Unit
${\mathrm{H}}^{+}$	Free proton	mol/L
${\mathrm{H}}_3{\mathrm{O}}^{+}$	Hydronium ion	mol/L

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Part of The Blueprint of Water