Hydrogen Ion - Cation (positively Charged)

Cation (positively Charged)

When hydrogen loses its electron, the following cations can be formed:

• Hydron: general name referring to the positive ion of any hydrogen isotope (H+)
• Proton: 1H+ (i.e. the cation of protium)
• Deuteron: 2H+, D+
• Triton: 3H+, T+

In addition, the ions produced by the reaction of these cations with water as well as their hydrates are called hydrogen ions:

• Hydronium ion: H₃O+
• Zundel cation: H₅O₂+ (named for Georg Zundel)
• Eigen cation: H₉O₄+ (named for Manfred Eigen)

Zundel cations and Eigen cations play an important role in proton diffusion according to the Grotthuss mechanism.

In connection with acids, "hydrogen ions" typically refers to hydrons.