What type of reaction occurs when equal volumes of 0.1 M HCl and 0.1 M NaOH are mixed?

What type of reaction occurs when equal volumes of 0.1 M HCl and 0.1 M NaOH are mixed?

• A. Neutralization
• B. Ionization
• C. Electrolysis
• D. Hydrolysis

Answer: (A)

Neutralization is the reaction between an acid and a base that forms water and a salt. Here, the strong acid HCl provides H+ and the strong base NaOH provides OH−, and they combine to make H2O. The Na+ and Cl− ions remain in solution and pair to form NaCl. Because the volumes and concentrations are the same, the amounts of H+ and OH− are equal, so all of them react and the solution becomes neutral. This isn’t ionization (which would produce ions from a molecule), electrolysis (which requires an external electric current), or hydrolysis (a salt reacting with water to form acid or base).

Neutralization is the reaction between an acid and a base that forms water and a salt. Here, the strong acid HCl provides H+ and the strong base NaOH provides OH−, and they combine to make H2O. The Na+ and Cl− ions remain in solution and pair to form NaCl. Because the volumes and concentrations are the same, the amounts of H+ and OH− are equal, so all of them react and the solution becomes neutral. This isn’t ionization (which would produce ions from a molecule), electrolysis (which requires an external electric current), or hydrolysis (a salt reacting with water to form acid or base).