Question

How do you write the electron dot diagram for the hydronium ion `H_3O^+`?

Answer 1

Just treat it on the basis of VESPER....you got `H_3ddotO^+`

Explanation:

Electronic geometry of `H_2ddotO:` is precisely the same as that of `H_3ddotO^+`...we conceive that ONE of the lone pair electrons of water donates to an `H^+` ion...

`H_2ddotO:+H^+rightleftharpoonsH_3ddotO^+`

...the hydronium ion is thus isostructural with ammonia, i.e. pyramidal...the formal positive charge is conceived to lie on oxygen...