Question

What is meant by neutralization? Give two examples from everyday life of the neutralization reaction.

Answer 1

Hint: Neutralization reactions are also called acid–base reactions and as the name suggests, they involve neutralization acid and base by each other to give salt and water.

Complete step by step answer:
Any chemical change is a chemical reaction which can be described by using a word equation where complete names of reactants and products are used. Another way of representation is chemical equations in which we use chemical formulae of all the involved species. Chemical reactions can be of different types: combination reactions, decomposition reactions, displacement reactions, double displacement reactions and redox reactions.
Some reactions are named on the basis of the nature of reactants, neutralization reaction being an example. These are reactions of acid and base with each other leading to their mutual neutralization. The common products are water and salt. We can also say that these are acid-base reactions.
Acids can be defined as proton donors with examples as $HCl\;{\rm{and}}\;{H_2}S{O_4}$. We can write the chemical equations for the donation of proton(s) as follows:
$\begin{array}{c}
HCl \to {H^ + } + C{l^ - }\\
{H_2}S{O_4} \to 2{H^ + } + SO_4^{2 - }
\end{array}$
Similarly, we can define bases as those compounds which furnish $O{H^ - }$ ions in the solution with examples as $NaOH\;{\rm{and}}\;Ca{\left( {OH} \right)_2}$.We can write the chemical equations as follows:
$\begin{array}{c}
NaOH\; \to N{a^ + } + O{H^ - }\\
Ca{\left( {OH} \right)_2} \to C{a^{2 + }} + 2O{H^ - }
\end{array}$
In neutralization reactions, $NaOH$ can react with $HCl$ as follows:
$HCl + NaOH \to NaCl + {H_2}O$
Similarly, $NaOH$ can react with ${H_2}S{O_4}$ as follows:
$2NaOH + {H_2}S{O_4} \to N{a_2}S{O_4} + 2{H_2}O$
We can see many neutralization reactions happening all around us. One example can be taken from the acidity problem that all of us face at times. Our stomach has acidic medium for digestion of food but if it gets in excess, we get acidity. To cure this, milk of magnesia is prescribed which is basic in nature as it contains $Mg{\left( {OH} \right)_2}$. So, the excess acid gets neutralized by this and we feel relieved. Another example can be taken from the ant sting which has $HCOOH$. To cure this, baking powder is administered that is basic in nature.

Note:
We have used only one definition for acids and bases but there are many others such as Lewis acid-base concept as per which acid and base are electron acceptor and donor respectively.