Reaction:
HNO₃(aq) + KOH(aq) → KNO₃(aq) + H₂O(l)
Explanation:
* Reactants:
* HNO₃: Nitric acid, a strong acid.
* KOH: Potassium hydroxide, a strong base.
* Products:
* KNO₃: Potassium nitrate, a salt.
* H₂O: Water, formed by the combination of hydrogen ions (H+) from the acid and hydroxide ions (OH-) from the base.
Net Ionic Equation:
The net ionic equation focuses on the species directly involved in the reaction:
H⁺(aq) + OH⁻(aq) → H₂O(l)
Key Points:
* The reaction is exothermic, meaning it releases heat.
* The resulting solution will be neutral (pH close to 7) because the strong acid and strong base neutralize each other.
* This reaction is a common example of a double displacement reaction, where the positive and negative ions of the reactants switch partners.
