Understand that water ionizes through a process called autoionization or self-ionization, where two water molecules interact to produce ions.
Recall the chemical equation for water ionization: \(\mathrm{2\ H_2O \rightleftharpoons H_3O^+ + OH^-}\), where one water molecule donates a proton (H+) to another water molecule.
Identify the ions produced: the hydronium ion (\(\mathrm{H_3O^+}\)), which is a water molecule with an extra proton, and the hydroxide ion (\(\mathrm{OH^-}\)), which is water that has lost a proton.
Note that \(\mathrm{Na^+}\) and \(\mathrm{Cl^-}\) are ions from common salts, not from water ionization, and \(\mathrm{H_2O^+}\) and \(\mathrm{O^{2-}}\) are not typical ions formed in water ionization.
Conclude that the correct ions produced when water ionizes are \(\mathrm{H_3O^+}\) and \(\mathrm{OH^-}\).