Question

what can you use to neutralize a spill of battery acid?
salt.
baking soda.
distilled water.
sulfuric acid.

Explanation:

Battery acid is acidic. To neutralize it, a base is needed. Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate, \(NaHCO_3\)) is a weak base. When it reacts with acid (e.g., sulfuric acid in battery acid, \(H_2SO_4\)), it undergoes a neutralization reaction. The reaction is \(2NaHCO_3 + H_2SO_4=Na_2SO_4 + 2H_2O+2CO_2\uparrow\). Salt (\(NaCl\)) is a neutral compound and does not react with acid to neutralize it. Distilled water (\(H_2O\)) is neutral and just dilutes the acid but does not neutralize it. Sulfuric acid (\(H_2SO_4\)) is an acid itself and cannot neutralize another acid.

Answer:

B. Baking Soda.