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According to the Arrhenius theory, what is produced when an acid dissolves in water?

a. H+

b. OH-

c. H₃O+

User Behseini
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Final answer:

When an acid like HCl dissolves in water according to the Arrhenius theory, it produces hydrogen ions (H+), which then combine with water to form hydronium ions (H3O+).

Step-by-step explanation:

According to the Arrhenius theory, when an acid dissolves in water, it produces hydrogen ions (H+), which immediately combine with water molecules to form hydronium ions (H3O+). This is represented by the chemical equation where hydrochloric acid (HCl) in aqueous solution dissociates completely into hydrogen ions and chloride ions:

HCl(aq) + H2O(l) → H3O+(aq) + Cl−(aq)

The hydrogen atom, consisting of a single proton and electron, when in solution as an H+ ion, does not exist freely but attaches to a water molecule forming the hydronium ion. Both H+ and H3O+ represent the acidic species, but using H3O+ indicates the absence of bare protons in solution.

User Thomas Shields
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