AUTOPROTOLYSIS

[Funmi Baruwa]

Could someone please explain what autoprotolysis is, and its importance? Is it the conversion of water to H3O+ and OH-?

[Astha Sahoo 3I]

Yes. It's when a proton from two identical molecules ionizes one of the molecules. In water, the H+ from one H2O molecule ionizes the other one so H3O+ is formed, and the molecule that lost the proton is now OH-. Hope this helps!

[Trevor_Ramsey_3H]

Autoprotolysis is basically a proton transfer between similar molecules. The example Professor Lavelle uses is water, but this can also be applied to NH3+NH3.

[Mahnoor_Wani_1I]

Autoprotolysis is when one molecule transfers a proton to another molecule of the same kind. Its a molecule that is amphoteric like water. Water is the most common example of autoprotolysis. The kw is the autoprotolysis constant.

[Adam Bustamante 1I]

Autoprotolysis is a molecule transfers a proton to a similar molecule, like in H2O. A proton is transfer to another H2O and becomes H3O+, making the one that transferred the proton OH-.

[Akash J 1J]

Could someone please explain what autoprotolysis is, and its importance? Is it the conversion of water to H3O+ and OH-?

Autoprotolysis is similar to what it sounds like. It's "automatic" protolysis (or proton transfer). In this context, autoprotolysis is happening in water, so you can think of it as some water molecules "automatically" giving a proton to another water molecule, forming a very small concentration of H3o+ and OH-. It is measured to have a Kw = 10^-7, hence pH of 7.

[Funmi Baruwa]

oh okay so it is proton transfer, but it doesn't necessarily have to involve water molecules?

[Astha Sahoo 3I]

oh okay so it is proton transfer, but it doesn't necessarily have to involve water molecules?

Yes! The proton transfer just has to happen between two of the same molecules.