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ionic equations of neutralisation reaction (1 Viewer)

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how can the ionic equation of the neutralisation of NaOH and HCl be written as either:

H+ + OH- >>> H20
or
H30+ + oh- >>> 2H20??
 

minijumbuk

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You'd get marks for either. But in reality, H+ ions cannot exist on their own. They always come in the form of H3O+.

I think it's something to do with Hydrogen's low electronegativity, but I'm not 100% sure.
 

Undermyskin

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I think it's because of the strong hydrogen bond plus the fact H+ is a cation?
 

minijumbuk

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Undermyskin said:
I think it's because of the strong hydrogen bond plus the fact H+ is a cation?
What are you referring to? Why they only exist as hydronium ions, and not H+?

Well, my explanation of WHY it has a strong hydrogen bonding (might not be correct, but sounds logical to me) is that since hydrogen ions have the lowest electronegativity (it is only a single proton), then it will form strong hydrogen bondings with the Oxygen atoms of water molecules.
 
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