Identify the role of H ₃ O ⁺ in the following reaction:

Step-by-step solution

The given reaction is the acid-catalyzed hydration of an alkene (methylenecyclohexane) to form an alcohol (1-methylcyclohexanol). The mechanism involves the following steps: 1. The alkene double bond attacks the electrophilic proton from H₃O^+ , forming a stable tertiary carbocation intermediate. This step consumes H₃O^+ and produces H₂O . 2. A water molecule acts as a nucleophile and attacks the carbocation, forming an oxonium ion intermediate. 3. Another water molecule removes a proton from the oxonium ion to yie