The ionic compound formed by a neutralization reaction is called a salt.
Understanding Neutralization Reactions
A neutralization reaction is a fundamental chemical process. Based on the provided reference, a neutralization reaction occurs when:
- An acid and a base react.
- The reaction takes place in an aqueous solution.
- The products are a salt and water.
This type of reaction essentially "neutralizes" the acidic and basic properties of the reactants, forming products that are typically neutral or less extreme in pH.
What is a Salt?
As defined by the reference, a salt is the specific type of ionic compound produced during a neutralization reaction. More precisely:
"A salt is an ionic compound composed of a cation from a base and an anion from an acid."
This means that the positive part (cation) of the salt comes from the base used in the reaction, and the negative part (anion) comes from the acid.
Composition of a Salt
Let's break down the composition of a salt based on the definition:
- Cation: This is a positively charged ion. In a neutralization reaction, the cation in the resulting salt originates from the base. For example, in the reaction between sodium hydroxide (NaOH, a base) and hydrochloric acid (HCl, an acid), the sodium ion (Na⁺) comes from NaOH.
- Anion: This is a negatively charged ion. In a neutralization reaction, the anion in the resulting salt originates from the acid. Using the same example, the chloride ion (Cl⁻) comes from HCl.
When these ions combine, they form an electrically neutral ionic compound – the salt.
Example: Sodium Chloride (NaCl)
A common example provided in the reference is the formation of sodium chloride (table salt).
Consider the reaction between hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide:
HCl (acid) + NaOH (base) → NaCl (salt) + H₂O (water)
In this reaction:
- The acid is Hydrochloric Acid (HCl), which provides the chloride anion (Cl⁻).
- The base is Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH), which provides the sodium cation (Na⁺).
- The resulting salt is Sodium Chloride (NaCl), formed from the Na⁺ cation and the Cl⁻ anion.
The reference specifically mentions: "The aqueous sodium chloride that is produced in the reaction is called a salt." This reinforces that sodium chloride is a prime example of a salt formed this way, confirming it is an ionic compound derived from a neutralization reaction.
Key Takeaways
- Neutralization reactions produce salts and water.
- A salt is the ionic compound byproduct of this reaction.
- Salts are formed from the cation of the base and the anion of the acid.
