What happens to acid when put in water?

1 Answer
anor277
Dec 29, 2016

It is conceived to increase the concentration of the hydronium ion, #H_3O^+#, the characteristic cation of water.

Explanation:

The lower hydrogen halides, #H-X#, #(X!=F)#, are all room temperature gases. They are all quite soluble in water, and in aqueous solution they are conceived to protonate the water molecule:

#HX + H_2O rarr H_3O^+ + X^-#

The #"hydronium"# or #"acidium ion"# is a cluster of 3-4 water molecules with an extra #H^+# added. We use representations such as #H^+# or #H_3O^+# for simplicity.

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