Question

Complete the reaction:
\[HCl + NaOH \to \]
(A) \[NaCl + {H_2}O\]
(B) \[NaCl + H + OH\]
(C) \[NaCl + {H_2}\]
(D) \[Na + Cl + {H_2}O\]

Answer 1

Hint: To answer this question we must know about the reactions between acids and bases. We already know whenever an acid reacts with a base; it undergoes a neutralization reaction to form salt and water.

Complete step by step answer:
When a solution is neutralized, it signifies that salts are due to equal weights of acid reacting with equal weights of base. The amount of acid needed is the amount that would give one mole of protons and the amount of base needed is the amount that would give one mole of hydroxyl ions. Since, salts are formed from neutralization reactions with equivalent concentrations of weights of acids and bases, we can say: N parts of acid will always neutralize N parts of base.
A weak acid and a strong base reacts to give a basic salt of pH more than 7, while a strong acid and a weak base react to give an acidic salt of pH less than 7.
Since both \[NaOH\] and \[HCl\] are strong in strength, we can write the following reaction:
\[HCl + NaOH \to NaCl + {H_2}O\]
Hence, the correct answer is Option (A) \[NaCl + {H_2}O\].

Additional information:
Although acids and bases have vastly different properties, the acid and base cancel each other to produce a rather innocuous substance—water. In fact, the general reaction between an acid and a base is to produce salt and water. Salt whether soluble or insoluble is defined as any ionic compound that is formed from a reaction between an acid and a base. 

Note: Neutralization reactions are the only type of chemical reaction that proceeds even if one reactant is not in the aqueous phase. Net ionic equations for neutralization reactions may include solid acids, solid bases, solid salts, and water.