What happens to hydrogen ions when strong acids dissolve in water?

When strong acids dissolve in water, the hydrogen atom separates completely from its anion as a proton ($H^{+}$). Because a hydrogen ion cannot exist alone in an aqueous solution, it immediately interacts with water molecules.12

The proton becomes strongly attached to a water molecule to form the hydronium ion ($H_3{O}^{+}$), which is also referred to as an oxonium ion. This ion is further stabilized through hydrogen bonding with surrounding water molecules, creating complex species represented by the general formula $H(H_{2}O{)}_n^{+}$. While these species are technically hydronium ions, they are still customarily referred to as hydrogen ions in practical applications.21