A hydroxide ion is a type of charged particle that you find in certain solutions, such as when a substance is dissolved in water. It has the chemical formula OH⁻, which means it consists of one oxygen atom bonded to one hydrogen atom, and it carries a negative charge. This negative charge is what makes the hydroxide ion special, allowing it to react with other particles in a solution. Hydroxide ions are often found in bases, which are substances that can neutralise acids. When a base dissolves in water, it either releases hydroxide ions (OH⁻) or reacts with water to produce them, making the solution alkaline. Understanding hydroxide ions is important in chemistry because they help us to explain how acids and bases interact with each other.
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