Question

question 6 of 10
what happens in a neutralization reaction?
a. hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions react to form a salt.
b. a neutral solution breaks up to form an acid and a base.
c. an acid reacts with a salt to produce a basic solution.
d. an acid reacts with a base to produce a neutral solution.

Explanation:

A neutralization reaction involves an acid reacting with a base. The general chemical equation for a neutralization reaction between an acid \(HA\) and a base \(MOH\) is \(HA + MOH
ightarrow MA + H_2O\), where \(MA\) is a salt and \(H_2O\) is water. The resulting solution is neutral (pH = 7) when the acid and base are in stoichiometric amounts.

• Option A: Hydrogen ions (\(H^+\)) and hydroxide ions (\(OH^-\)) react to form water (\(H_2O\)), not a salt. The salt is formed from the cation of the base and the anion of the acid.
• Option B: A neutral solution does not break up to form an acid and a base in a neutralization reaction. The reverse (salt hydrolysis) can occur in some cases but is not a neutralization reaction.
• Option C: An acid reacting with a salt is not a neutralization reaction. A neutralization reaction is between an acid and a base.
• Option D: This is the correct description of a neutralization reaction.

Answer:

D. An acid reacts with a base to produce a neutral solution.