Here's the balanced chemical equation:
NaOH (aq) + HCl (aq) → NaCl (aq) + H₂O (l)
Let's break down what happens:
* Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is a strong base. It dissociates completely in water to form sodium ions (Na⁺) and hydroxide ions (OH⁻).
* Hydrochloric acid (HCl) is a strong acid. It dissociates completely in water to form hydrogen ions (H⁺) and chloride ions (Cl⁻).
* Sodium chloride (NaCl) is a salt that is soluble in water. It remains as ions (Na⁺ and Cl⁻) in the solution.
* Water (H₂O) is formed by the reaction of hydroxide ions (OH⁻) from the base and hydrogen ions (H⁺) from the acid.
The reaction is exothermic, meaning it releases heat. This can be observed as a rise in temperature if the reaction is carried out in a solution.
In summary:
The reaction between sodium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid is a neutralization reaction that produces salt (sodium chloride) and water. It is an exothermic reaction that releases heat.
