Quote:
Originally posted by RatedG²
FOH who needs to visualize two H's and an O though? Besides smarty pants, that proposed structure is wrong as well, you need two pairs of lone electrons
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Well I've been studying acid-base chemistry recently, so it's easier to use HOH(l) when writing the equilibrium reactions for weak acids and weak bases, so I can visualize how the hydrogen cation and hydroxide cation react with salts and "trade partners" in the reaction and such. Besides, how is it wrong? The formula can be written different ways, as long as the number of atoms of each element remains consistent. Similarly, acetic acid can be written the follows ways:
HC2H3O2 (aq)
C2H4O2 (aq)
CH3COOH (aq)
They're all the same solution.
Also, how is HOH(l) wrong, when it actually represents the symmetrical structure and bond angle of a water molecule better than H2O(l) does? You can write it either way.
