Question

Neutralization reaction is an example of _.
A) Exothermic reaction
B) Endothermic reaction
C) Oxidation reaction
D) None of the above

Answer 1

Hint:An exothermic reaction involves release of heat when formation of products takes place, while in case of endothermic reaction, heat is absorbed. In the process of neutralisation acid and bases are mixed with each other in order to form salt and water.

Complete answer:
Neutralisation, as the name suggests is the process of making the $pH$ of a solution seven or nearly seven. It is a reaction in which formation of water takes place as a side product of the equation, as the acid and bases react with each other. The water formation takes place by the proton which is released from the acid and the hydroxide ion present in the base, which was liberated. As we are aware that the acids are the species which liberate protons when exposed to water, and bases are the ones which liberate hydroxide ions. Another product is formed in the process of neutralisation, which is a salt, formed by the counter ions of acid and base.
Water can act as acid as well as base, depending on the corresponding reactant. Meaning, if the water reacts with hydrochloric acid it will act as a base, and liberate hydroxide ion. Similarly if the water reacts with molecules of sodium hydroxide, it will liberate protons in the solution. Hence water is also known as amphoteric reagent.
For the process of neutralisation of any substance, they react with the substance imposing opposite nature. Like if we were to neutralise an acid, we will add something basic to it, and similarly, if we want to neutralise base, we would have to add acid in order to neutralise it.
In this process the heat is released, hence it is an exothermic reaction.

Hence the correct answer is (A).

Note:The neutralisation reaction yields salt and water, where the water is formed by the combination of proton which was liberated by acid, and the hydroxide ion which was liberated by the base present in the reactants.The salt is formed by the combination of the remaining counterparts of acid and the base, meaning the conjugate base of the acid and the conjugate acid of the bases combine with each other in order to form the salt.