Here's a breakdown:
* Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is a strong base.
* Acetic acid (CH₃COOH) is a weak acid.
When these two solutions are mixed, they react to form:
* Sodium acetate (CH₃COONa), a salt.
* Water (H₂O).
The chemical equation for the reaction is:
NaOH (aq) + CH₃COOH (aq) → CH₃COONa (aq) + H₂O (l)
Key characteristics of neutralization reactions:
* Acid and base react to form a salt and water.
* The pH of the solution becomes closer to neutral (pH 7).
* Heat is often released, making the reaction exothermic.
In the case of NaOH and CH₃COOH, the resulting solution will be slightly basic due to the hydrolysis of the acetate ion (CH₃COO⁻).
