Which is the net ionic equation for neutralization?

Which is the net ionic equation for neutralization?

• A. H+ + H2O -> H3O+
• B. H+ + OH- -> H2O
• C. H+ + NH3 -> NH4+
• D. H+ + Cl- -> HCl

Answer: (B)

Neutralization happens when a proton from the acid meets a hydroxide ion from the base to form water. In net ionic form, only the reacting ions are shown, so the straightforward representation is H+ + OH- -> H2O. This captures the essential event of neutralization in aqueous solution, especially for a strong acid reacting with a strong base. Note that in water, H+ is actually present as H3O+, but we usually write it as H+ in net ionic equations for simplicity. The other ideas shown—proton hydration without a base, acid reacting with a weak base to form a new ammonium species, or forming a molecular acid from ions—do not illustrate the primary ion–ion neutralization step that yields water.

Neutralization happens when a proton from the acid meets a hydroxide ion from the base to form water. In net ionic form, only the reacting ions are shown, so the straightforward representation is H+ + OH- -> H2O. This captures the essential event of neutralization in aqueous solution, especially for a strong acid reacting with a strong base.

Note that in water, H+ is actually present as H3O+, but we usually write it as H+ in net ionic equations for simplicity. The other ideas shown—proton hydration without a base, acid reacting with a weak base to form a new ammonium species, or forming a molecular acid from ions—do not illustrate the primary ion–ion neutralization step that yields water.