When an acid and a base react in a neutralization reaction, they form a salt and water. The salt is a compound composed of the positively charged ions from the base and the negatively charged ions from the acid. The water is formed by the combination of the hydrogen ions from the acid and the hydroxide ions from the base.

For example, when hydrochloric acid (HCl) reacts with sodium hydroxide (NaOH), the following reaction occurs:

HCl + NaOH -> NaCl + H2O

The products of this reaction are sodium chloride (NaCl) and water (H2O). Sodium chloride is a salt, and water is a neutral compound.

The overall effect of a neutralization reaction is to convert the acidic and basic properties of the reactants into a neutral salt and water. This reaction is important in many chemical processes, such as the production of fertilizers, soaps, and medicines.