How are ions formed? [closed]








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I know that $\ce{H2O}$ is neutral.
So how does adding one more hydrogen atom to it make it positive ion ($\ce{H3O+}$)?




The flaw in the question is exactly what [Gaurang Tandon said](https://chemistry.stackexchange.com/q/91264/#comment167288_91264): $\ce{H3O^+}$ is formed by a water molecule and a **proton** ($\ce{H^+}$), not a hydrogen atom.


Compare the **number of electrons** in both sides of the following two equations:


$$\ce{H2O + H^+ -> H3O^+}$$


$$\ce{H2O + H^. -> H3O^+}$$


The last equation is wrong: there's an extra electron in the left hand side.


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