To avoid the implication of the naked "solvated proton" in solution, acidic aqueous solutions are sometimes considered to contain a less unlikely fictitious species, termed the "hydronium ion" (H3O+). However, even in this case, such solvated hydrogen cations are more realistically conceived as being organized into clusters that form species closer to H9O+4. Other oxonium ions are found when water is in acidic solution with other solvents.
Where are the solvated proton, the hydronium ion, and the oxonium ions found?
acidic aqueous solutions