(A) Water
Neutralization, the chemical reaction combining an acid with a base to produce a neutral solution, produces a salt and water.
Neutralization is a double displacement chemical reaction where an acid reacts with a base to form a salt and water. The reaction only products neutral compounds and is reversible in nature.
Based on Arrhenius' acid and base theory, an acid when dissolved in water produces positive hydrogen ([tex]H^+[/tex]) ion and negative non-metal ions. A base when dissolved in water produces positive metal ions and negative hydroxide ([tex]OH^-[/tex]) ions. When an acid reacts with a base, the hydrogen ions react with the hydroxide ions to form water.
[tex]H^+ + OH^-[/tex] → [tex]H_2O[/tex]
The metal and non-metal ions combine to form a neutral ionic compound, the salt.
Eg: Combination of Sodium Hydroxide ([tex]NaOH[/tex]) and hydrochloric acid ([tex]HCl[/tex]) forms Water ([tex]H_2O[/tex]) and Common salt ([tex]NaCl[/tex])
Equation:
[tex]NaOH + HCl[/tex] ⇄ [tex]NaCl + H_2O[/tex]
[tex]Base + Acid[/tex] ⇄ [tex]Salt + Water[/tex]
