HCl + NaOH = ?
An acid + a base ==> salt + water
HCl + NaOH = NaCl + HOH
The chemical equation you provided represents a neutralization reaction between hydrochloric acid (HCl) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH). In this reaction, an acid reacts with a base to produce a salt and water.
To determine the products of this reaction, we need to balance the equation and consider the combining elements. Here's how you can do it:
1. First, write the balanced equation by swapping the cations and anions between the reactants, keeping in mind that the charges need to cancel each other out:
HCl + NaOH → NaCl + H2O
2. Now, let's examine the reaction. HCl is an acid, and NaOH is a base. When they react, the H+ ion from the acid combines with the OH- ion from the base to form water (H2O). At the same time, the remaining ions, Na+ from the base and Cl- from the acid, combine to form sodium chloride (NaCl), which is a salt.
Therefore, the products of the reaction are sodium chloride (NaCl) and water (H2O).
Please note that this reaction is also known as a neutralization reaction because the formation of water results in a neutral solution.