http://www.ck12.org Chapter 3. Chemical Interactions
3.55 Acid-Base Neutralization
- Identify the ions produced when acids and bases dissolve in water.
- Describe neutralization reactions and the formation of salts.
What is one of the most important characteristics of a referee? A referee must be neutral. He can’t favor one team
over the other. In chemistry, being neutral means not being an acid or a base. Pure water is an example of a neutral
substance. In some chemical reactions, an acid and a base combine to form neutral products, including water. You’ll
see how this happens when you read this article.
Acids, Bases, and Ions
An acid is a compound that produces positive hydrogen ions (H+) and negative nonmetal ions when it dissolves in
water. (Ions are atoms that have become charged by losing or gaining electrons.) Hydrochloric acid (HCl) is an
example of an acid. When it dissolves in water, it produces positive hydrogen ions and negative chloride ions (Cl−).
This can be represented by the chemical equation:
HCl
H 2 O
→H++ Cl−A base is a compound that produces negative hydroxide ions (OH−) and positive metal ions when it dissolves in
water. For example, when the base sodium hydroxide (NaOH) dissolves in water, it produces negative hydroxide
ions and positive sodium ions (Na+). This can be represented by the chemical equation:
NaOHH→^2 OOH−+ Na+Q:If you were to combine acid and base solutions, what products do you think would be produced?
A:Combining acid and base solutions produces water and a neutral ionic compound.