Final answer:
The hydronium ion H3O+ contains 3 hydrogen atoms bonded to a central oxygen atom, is present in acidic aqueous solutions, and is a hydrated proton. It is not produced when a base releases H+ ions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The hydronium ion, often denoted as H3O+, plays a crucial role in the chemistry of aqueous solutions. This ion forms when acids dissolve in water, and it can be thought of as a proton (a hydrogen ion, H+) that has associated itself with a water molecule. To address the specifics of the question:
- Option 2 is correct as the hydronium ion contains 3 hydrogen atoms bonded to a central oxygen atom, creating a molecule with the formula H3O+.
- Option 3 is correct because hydronium ions are indeed present in acidic aqueous solutions, which is where a higher concentration of H3O+ compared to OH- determines the solution's acidic nature.
- Option 4 is also correct because the hydronium ion can be considered as a hydrated proton, where the H+ ion is not found freely in solution but is instead associated with a molecule of water.
However, Option 1 is incorrect because hydronium ions are not produced when a base releases H+ ions; it's the other way around—hydronium ions are produced when acids release H+ ions into water.