Question

a carboxylic acid is neutralized with a strong base. fill in the chemical formulas of the missing first reactant, the missing component in the second reactant, and the missing product in the reaction below. do not include the states of matter with your formulas.
provide your answer below:
□ + na□→ch₃ch₂coo⁻na⁺ + □

Explanation:

Step1: Analyze the first reactant

Carboxylic acids have the general formula $R - COOH$. In the product, the carboxylate ion is $CH_{3}CH_{2}COO^{-}$, so the first reactant (the carboxylic acid) is $CH_{3}CH_{2}COOH$.

Step2: Analyze the second reactant

Strong bases used for neutralizing carboxylic acids are usually metal hydroxides. Since the cation in the product is $Na^{+}$, the base is $NaOH$, so the missing component in $Na\square$ is $OH$.

Step3: Analyze the product

The neutralization reaction of an acid ($R - COOH$) and a base ($MOH$) produces a salt ($R - COO^{-}M^{+}$) and water ($H_{2}O$). So the missing product is $H_{2}O$.

Answer:

$CH_{3}CH_{2}COOH$; $OH$; $H_{2}O$