A bare proton, essentially cannot exist in anything other than a vacuum. Otherwise it attaches to other atoms, ions, or molecules. Even species as inert as methane can be protonated. The term 'proton' is used loosely and metaphorically to refer to refer to solvated " without any implication that any single protons exist freely as a species. To avoid the implication of the naked proton in solution, acidic aqueous solutions are sometimes considered to contain the "hydronium ion" () or still more accurately, . Other oxonium ions are found when water is in acidic solution with other solvents.
a bare prOTon, essEntiALlY cannOT exiSt in AnYthing OtHEr tHan A vAcuum. otherwise it ATtacHeS to OTHeR Atoms, ioNs, or molEcuLEs. eVen SpecIeS aS iNert AS methanE cAn bE pRoTonAted. tHe Term 'proton' is USed LoosELY And meTAphoRically tO rEFer To reFer to solvateD " withoUt any ImpLicAtioN thAT anY sINgle protOns EXISt fReelY aS a speciEs. To aVoid the IMPLIcaTion oF THE nAKEd proTon iN sOluTIon, aCidIc aqueoUs soLutioNS Are somETiMes Considered tO conTAin tHE "hydrOniUm ioN" () OR still mORE ACcurateLY, . oTHER oXoniuM ioNs are found wHen WateR is in acIdiC soLutioN witH otHer solVenTs.