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.

Related questions
See all questions in Dynamic Equilibrium
Impact of this question
8366 views around the world
You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License