What is hydronium?

Hydronium is a positively charged ion formed when a proton binds to a water molecule. Its chemical formula is H3O+.

Hydronium ions are important in acid-base chemistry, as they are often used to represent the concentration of hydronium ions in an aqueous solution. The concentration of hydronium ions is used to calculate the pH of a solution, which indicates its acidity or alkalinity.

In pure water, the concentration of hydronium ions is 1.0 x 10^-7 mol/L, resulting in a neutral pH of 7. When the concentration of hydronium ions increases, the pH of the solution decreases, indicating increasing acidity.

Hydronium ions are also responsible for the conductivity of water, as they allow for the flow of electric current in aqueous solutions.