[escapeartist]

I was solving a titration problem (titrating a solution of KHO with a solution of H2SO4).

And the final question is the number of molecules of water produced during the titration. The problem is that the neutralization net ionic equation is given by:

HO-(aq) + H+(aq) -> H2O(l) (1)

and that gives me a correct result since I have the number of moles of HO- (and H3O+).

However if I use the equation

H3O+(aq) + HO-(aq) -> 2H2O(l) (2)

I get the double number of molecules which is obvious since the stoichiometry of this equation is different.

My question is: when should I use equation 1 and when should I use equation 2? And why do chemists use both since it can be a source of confusion?

Thanks.