Here's the balanced chemical equation:
NH₄Cl (aq) + NaOH (aq) → NH₃ (g) + H₂O (l) + NaCl (aq)
Here's a breakdown of the reaction:
* Ammonium chloride (NH₄Cl) is a salt that dissolves in water to form ammonium ions (NH₄⁺) and chloride ions (Cl⁻).
* Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is a strong base that dissolves in water to form sodium ions (Na⁺) and hydroxide ions (OH⁻).
* When these solutions are mixed, the ammonium ions (NH₄⁺) react with the hydroxide ions (OH⁻) to produce ammonia (NH₃) and water (H₂O). Ammonia is a gas, so it will be released from the solution.
* The remaining sodium ions (Na⁺) and chloride ions (Cl⁻) combine to form sodium chloride (NaCl), which remains dissolved in the solution.
Important Note: This reaction is an equilibrium reaction. The ammonia produced will escape as a gas, driving the reaction to the right, favoring the formation of products.