autoprotolysis

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noun

The autoionization of water (or similar compounds) in which a proton (hydrogen ion) is transferred to form a cation and an anion e.g. 2H₂O => H₃O⁺ + OH⁻

OriginEnglish protolysis ← Ancient Greek αὐτο- (auto-) ← Proto-Indo-European *h₂ew →
Scrabble 19
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Meanings

nounautoprotolysis (usually uncountable, plural autoprotolyses)

plural autoprotolyses

  1. uncountableusuallychemistryThe autoionization of water (or similar compounds) in which a proton (hydrogen ion) is transferred to form a cation and an anion e.g. 2H₂O => H₃O⁺ + OH⁻

Origin

  1. Proto-Hellenic*autós
  2. Proto-Indo-European*h₂ew
  3. Ancient Greekαὖ (aû)
  4. Ancient Greekτόν (tón)
  5. Ancient Greekαὐτός (autós)
  6. Ancient Greekαὐτο- (auto-)
  7. Englishauto-
  8. Englishprotolysis
  9. Englishautoprotolysis

From auto- + protolysis.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Danish autoprotolyse
  • autoprotolyseautoionization of water
Italian autoprotolisi
  • autoprotolisiautoionization of water
Polish autojonizacja, autoprotoliza
  • autojonizacjaautoionization of water
  • autoprotolizaautoionization of water
Swedish autoprotolys
  • autoprotolysautoionization of water
Cite this entry
APA

autoprotolysis. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/autoprotolysis

MLA

“autoprotolysis.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/autoprotolysis. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “autoprotolysis,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/autoprotolysis.

Source: autoprotolysis on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.