0x668143c4…385fsent to0x54ca7ff4…7b3e·#15,936,844·view on Etherscan
# The auto-ionization of absorbed water at hydrophilic surfaces
Consider individual water molecules, that are hydrogen bonded to a hydrophilic surface (i.e., a surface that can hydrogen bond to water molecules. ) These molecules will physically anchor to the surfaces, and can also hydrogen bond to other water molecules, providing an anchor to them as well. With this effect, multiple layers of immobile water can form at the hydrophilic surface. The water will also hydrogen bond sideways within each layer, and should orient themselves in whatever way fits best. The organization that forms should be an intermediary between the solid phase of water - ice - and the liquid phase, and probably more towards the solid phase. Since this intermediary is partially liquid, hydrogen bonds in it will continuously break and reform. Every time a hydrogen bond is broken, there is a probability of transferring a hydrogen ion from one water molecule to the other. These hydrogen ions will be mobile relative to the adsorbed water that is immobile, and can gradually diffuse away, while the hydroxide ions remain locked into the adsorbed phase. As the hydrogen ions diffuse outwards, an electric field strength will increase between the then negatively charged adsorbed water, and the surrounding hydronium ions. The equilibrium is a separation of charges into a positively charged layer of liquid water on top of the negatively charged adsorbed phase. Because the charges are physically separated, the probability of recombination of the ions to water is reduced, and the result is an increase in the number of ionized water molecules.