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What happens when dilute hydrochloric acid reacts with sodium hydroxide?

Published in Acid-Base Reaction 1 min read

When dilute hydrochloric acid reacts with sodium hydroxide, they undergo a chemical reaction that produces new substances.

The Reaction Between Hydrochloric Acid and Sodium Hydroxide

According to chemical principles, specifically the information provided:

Hydrochloric acid reacts with sodium hydroxide solution to form sodium chloride and water. This type of reaction is a common interaction between an acid (hydrochloric acid) and a base (sodium hydroxide).

The substances involved and the products formed can be represented by a word equation:

  • Hydrochloric acid + Sodium hydroxide → Sodium chloride + Water

Reactants and Products

This reaction involves two main starting materials, known as reactants, and produces two new substances, known as products.

Reactants:

  • Dilute Hydrochloric Acid (an acid solution)
  • Sodium Hydroxide (a base solution)

Products:

  • Sodium chloride (a salt)
  • Water
Component Type Role
Hydrochloric Acid Acid Reactant
Sodium Hydroxide Base Reactant
Sodium chloride Salt Product
Water Solvent/Liquid Product

The reaction essentially involves the hydrogen ion (H⁺) from the acid combining with the hydroxide ion (OH⁻) from the base to form water (H₂O), while the remaining ions, sodium (Na⁺) and chloride (Cl⁻), combine to form the salt sodium chloride (NaCl). This results in a solution of sodium chloride in water.