An acid–base neutralization reaction is a chemical reaction in which an acid reacts with a base to form two products: salt and water.
Key Points:
- The hydrogen ions (H⁺) from the acid combine with the hydroxide ions (OH⁻) from the base to make water.
- The remaining parts of the acid and base form a salt (an ionic compound).
- The reaction is called “neutralization” because the acidic and basic properties cancel each other, moving the solution closer to neutral pH.
Examples in words:
- Hydrochloric acid reacts with sodium hydroxide to produce sodium chloride (a salt) and water.
- Sulfuric acid reacts with potassium hydroxide to produce potassium sulfate (a salt) and water.
In short: An acid–base neutralization reaction is when an acid and a base react to produce salt and water, canceling out each other’s effects.