Question

sodium hydroxide (naoh) and hydrochloric acid (hcl) combine to make table salt (nacl) and water (h₂o). which equation is balanced? (1 point)
naoh + 2hcl → nacl + h₂o
naoh + hcl → nacl + h₂o
2naoh + 2hcl → 2nacl + h₂o
2naoh + hcl → nacl + h₂o

Explanation:

Step1: Count atoms in each option

• For \(NaOH + 2HCl

ightarrow NaCl + H_{2}O\):

• Na: 1 on left, 1 on right.
• O: 1 on left, 1 on right.
• H: \(1 + 2=3\) on left, \(2\) on right.
• Cl: \(2\) on left, \(1\) on right.
• For \(NaOH + HCl

ightarrow NaCl + H_{2}O\):

• Na: 1 on left, 1 on right.
• O: 1 on left, 1 on right.
• H: \(1 + 1 = 2\) on left, \(2\) on right.
• Cl: 1 on left, 1 on right.
• For \(2NaOH + 2HCl

ightarrow 2NaCl + H_{2}O\):

• Na: \(2\) on left, \(2\) on right.
• O: \(2\) on left, \(1\) on right.
• H: \(2 + 2=4\) on left, \(2\) on right.
• Cl: \(2\) on left, \(2\) on right.
• For \(2NaOH + HCl

ightarrow NaCl + H_{2}O\):

• Na: \(2\) on left, \(1\) on right.
• O: \(2\) on left, \(1\) on right.
• H: \(2 + 1=3\) on left, \(2\) on right.
• Cl: \(1\) on left, \(1\) on right.

Answer:

\(NaOH + HCl
ightarrow NaCl + H_{2}O\) (the second option)