Final answer:
Autoionization of water is the process where water produces equal numbers of H+ and OH- ions. It is an equilibrium reaction resulting in hydronium and hydroxide ions with product of concentrations always being 1.0 × 10^-14 in pure, acidic, or basic solutions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process by which water produces equal numbers of H+ ions and OH- ions is known as autoionization of water. This reaction can be represented by the equation: H2O(l) + H2O(l) → H3O+ (aq) + OH¯ (aq). The autoionization of water is an equilibrium process that involves the transfer of protons between water molecules, yielding hydronium ions (H3O+) and hydroxide ions (OH-). In pure water, the concentration of hydronium ions is equal to the concentration of hydroxide ions. The product of these concentrations, [H3O+][OH-], is always 1.0 × 10-14, which applies to neutral, acidic, or basic solutions.
The process by which water produces equal numbers of H+ ions and OH- ions is known as autoionization or the self-ionization of water. This occurs through a reaction between identical water molecules, resulting in the transfer of protons to yield hydronium (H3O+) and hydroxide (OH-) ions. It can be represented by the equation: H2O(l) + H2O(l) → H3O+(aq) + OH-(aq).
Autoionization of water occurs in every sample of water, whether it is pure or part of a solution. The concentration of hydronium ions ([H3O+]) is equal to the concentration of hydroxide ions ([OH-]), making the solution neutral.
High School students learning about aqueous solutions and pH would typically encounter this concept.