Question #97f87

1 Answer
Stefan V. · Media Owl · Bio
May 6, 2015

Yes

Explanation:

Yes, pure water does contain ions due to a process called the autoionization (or self-ionization) of water.

http://www.middleschoolchemistry.com/lessonplans/chapter6/lesson8

That happens because water can act both as an acid, donating a proton, #H^(+)#, to another water molecule, which acts as a base.

The reaction results in the formation of the hydronium ion, or #H_3O^(+)#, and of the hydroxide ion, #HO^(-)#.

http://students.washington.edu/nbasil/chem_ch15.html

However, the concentration of hydronium and hydroxide ions will be very, very small; in fact, the equilibrium that's established in solution lies so far to the left, that only 18 in #10^10# molecules of water will undergo autoionization.

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