Which statement correctly describes the neutralization of a strong acid with a strong base?

Which statement correctly describes the neutralization of a strong acid with a strong base?

• A. Formation of water and a salt.
• B. Hydrogen gas is evolved.
• C. No reaction occurs.
• D. The solution becomes highly basic.

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that neutralization involves the H+ from the strong acid reacting with the OH− from the strong base to form water, while the remaining ions form a salt. For example, HCl fully dissociates into H+ and Cl−, and NaOH fully dissociates into Na+ and OH−; combining gives Na+ and Cl− as the salt and H2O as the water. When the amounts are stoichiometrically equivalent, the solution is essentially neutral because all the acid and base have been consumed and only water and a salt remain. There is no hydrogen gas produced in this process, and the solution is not highly basic after complete neutralization.

The key idea is that neutralization involves the H+ from the strong acid reacting with the OH− from the strong base to form water, while the remaining ions form a salt. For example, HCl fully dissociates into H+ and Cl−, and NaOH fully dissociates into Na+ and OH−; combining gives Na+ and Cl− as the salt and H2O as the water. When the amounts are stoichiometrically equivalent, the solution is essentially neutral because all the acid and base have been consumed and only water and a salt remain. There is no hydrogen gas produced in this process, and the solution is not highly basic after complete neutralization.