H3O+ versus H+

[Katie Nye 2F]

When calculating pH, I have seen calculations that use the concentration of H+ and calculations that use the concentration of H3O+. Is there a different calculation between the two? Or are they different because the question provided different information?

[Kailani_Dial_2K]

They are essentially the same thing. Lavelle likes to be more specific and say H3O+ because H+ ions wouldn't just be floating around in water, they would react with the water to make the hydronium ions. So H3O+ is just being more realistic I would say.

[Crystal Yu 1D]

Both technically mean the same thing, but I would note that H+ is a shorthand of H3O+. The actual interaction causes the formation of H3O+ when water reacts with the H+ from an acid, but both should be acceptable. I hope this helps! :)

[aashmi_agrawal_3d]

I think they are both basically the same thing.

[Akriti Ratti 1H]

I believe they're referring to the same thing.

[505352202]

Most of the time, H+ is referring to H3O+. It is just a shorter way to write it. You have to remember that there is interaction with water H2O, so when you have that additional H+, you get H3O+ Hydronium.

[Madeline Ogden 3B]

Both mean pretty much the same thing. I think H+ is used as shorthand for H3O+ in the same way that we say "pH of 7" rather than "-log(1.0 x 10^-7)". One is just a more descriptive form of the other.

[Xinying Wang_3C]

I think [H30+] and [H+] are basically the same thing, they are just different ways to represent proton concentrations.

[emilyyribarren1k]

They are pretty much the same thing.

[Austin Aldujaili 2D]

They are the same thing, the only difference is that, experimentally, H30+ is technically more accurate given that is what is happening at a molecular level (the water molecule gains a proton, lowering the pH of the solution rather than just a H+ ion floating around in solution).

[Brandon Pham 1H]

Pragmatically, you can think of them as the same thing when solving problems.

[reyvalui_3g]

They are the same thing when it comes to solving acid and base problems.

[FionaHunter21]

It's just the difference between specifying if the H+ ion is bonded to the water or not. I think Dr. Lavelle wants us to practice using the full hydronium ion since the proton would be binding to a water molecule.

[Crystal Pan 2G]

They are basically the same thing. When we say we donate a proton, typically means donating an H+ which will form H3O+, so theyre essentially saying the same thing.

[Yijia_Yang_3A]

i think they are the same thing

[Gigi Elizarraras 2C]

Dr. Lavelle suggests that we treat them both as the same thing:) so [H+] and [H30+] are the same!

[DPatel_2L]

Both are the same thing

[Sally_Luo_3F]

They are the same thing, but in the expression for acidity (Ka) it is written as H3O+

[samaagwani-disc2L]

H+ and H3O+ are the same. I like to think as the + representing an acid, and the - in OH- representing the base. It helps me when working through the problems and since both H+ and H3O+ have that positive sign, they are the same thing. Hope this helps:)

[Jessica Gebraeel 1A]

They mean the same thing! H30+ is definitely more accurate because it is what actually forms in solution, but in terms of writing an equation, you can use them interchangeably.