Water's Role in Hydroxide Formation: Understanding the H2O to OH- Reaction
The molecule that loses a proton to form the hydroxide ion (OH-) is water (H₂O).
Here's the chemical reaction:
H₂O ⇌ H⁺ + OH⁻
This reaction is an equilibrium, meaning it can go both ways. Water can lose a proton (H⁺) to form a hydroxide ion (OH⁻), or it can gain a proton to reform water.
