| Themes > Science > Chemistry > Inorganic Chemistry > Chemical Reaction , Chemical Formulas , Chemical Equation > Chemical Reaction > Acid/Base Reactions > Acid/Base Reactions - Basics |
Acid/Base reactions are reactions that involve the neutralization of an acid through the use of a base. But what does that all mean? This means that when at solution of HCl and NaOH are reacted together, the acidity of the HCl will be reduced by NaOH (which is a strong base). In this reaction, the Na+ and the Cl- are called spectator ions because they play no role in the overall outcome of the reaction. The only thing that reacts is the H+ (from the HCl) and the OH- (from the NaOH). So the reaction that actually takes place is: If in the end, the OH- was the limiting reagent and there are H+'s still left in the solution then the solution is acidic, but if the H+ was the limiting reagent and OH-'s were left in the solution then the solution is basic. |
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