Hydroxide Ion: Properties And Role In Chemistry

A hydroxide ion is a negatively charged ion that consists of one oxygen atom and one hydrogen atom. It is formed when a water molecule loses a proton. The hydroxide ion is a common component of aqueous solutions and plays an important role in acid-base chemistry. The charge of a hydroxide ion is -1.

The Charge of a Hydroxide Ion

The hydroxide ion, denoted by OH-, is a negatively charged ion that forms when water undergoes autoionization, a chemical reaction in which water molecules interact to produce ions. The charge of the hydroxide ion arises from the loss of a proton (H+) from a water molecule.

Proton Dissociation and Ion Formation

  1. Ionization of Water: In pure water, a small number of water molecules undergo autoionization, forming hydroxide ions and hydronium ions (H3O+). The autoionization reaction can be represented as follows:
2H2O → H3O+ + OH-
  1. Proton Transfer: The formation of a hydroxide ion involves the transfer of a proton from one water molecule to another. The water molecule that loses the proton becomes the hydroxide ion, while the water molecule that gains the proton becomes the hydronium ion.

Charge of the Hydroxide Ion

  • The hydroxide ion carries a negative charge due to the extra electron gained by the oxygen atom compared to the neutral water molecule.
  • The negative charge is denoted by the superscript “-” in OH-.

Table: Summary of Charge and Structure

Ion Charge Structure
Hydroxide ion (OH-) -1 Oxygen atom with a covalently bonded hydrogen atom and an extra electron
  • The negative charge of the hydroxide ion plays a crucial role in its chemical and biochemical properties, influencing its interactions with other ions and molecules.
  • In aqueous solutions, hydroxide ions can react with acids to form water and a salt, demonstrating their basic nature.

Question 1:

What is the charge of a hydroxide ion?

Answer:

The hydroxide ion, represented by the chemical symbol OH-, has a charge of -1. This indicates that the hydroxide ion carries one extra electron, resulting in a net negative charge.

Question 2:

How does the charge of a hydroxide ion differ from that of a hydrogen ion?

Answer:

The charge of a hydroxide ion (-1) is opposite to that of a hydrogen ion (+1). This difference in charge is due to the gain or loss of electrons: a hydroxide ion gains an electron, while a hydrogen ion loses an electron.

Question 3:

What is the significance of the charge of a hydroxide ion?

Answer:

The negative charge of a hydroxide ion plays a crucial role in chemical reactions, such as acid-base reactions. It allows hydroxide ions to interact with positive ions to form ionic compounds. The charge also influences the solubility and other properties of these compounds.

Well, there you go! You now know that the hydroxide ion carries a negative one charge. Thanks for reading and I hope you found this article helpful. If you ever have any other questions about chemistry, feel free to visit again later and I’ll do my best to answer them.

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