9.8: Neutralization Reactions

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Learning Objectives

Given the reactants in an aqueous chemical reaction, predict the products in a double displacement reaction.

An acid is any compound that increases the amount of hydrogen ion (H⁺) in an aqueous solution. The chemical opposite of an acid is a base. The equivalent definition of a base is that a base is a compound that increases the amount of hydroxide ion (OH⁻) in an aqueous solution. These definitions are referred to as the Arrhenius definition of an acid and a base, respectively. More complete definitions for acids and bases are covered in later chemistry courses.

You may recognize that, based on the description of a hydrogen atom, an H⁺ ion is a hydrogen atom that has lost its lone electron; that is, H⁺ is simply a proton. Do we really have bare protons moving about in aqueous solution? No. What is more likely is that the H⁺ ion has attached itself to one (or more) water molecule(s). To represent this chemically, we define the hydronium ion as H₃O⁺, which represents an additional proton attached to a water molecule. We use the hydronium ion as the more logical way that a hydrogen ion appears in an aqueous solution, although in many chemical reactions H⁺ and H₃O⁺ are treated equivalently.

The reaction of an acid and a base is called a neutralization reaction. Although acids and bases have their own unique chemistries, the acid and base cancel each other's chemistry to produce a rather innocuous substance—water. In fact, the general reaction between an acid and a base is:

\[\ce{acid + base → water + salt}\nonumber \]

where the term salt is generally used to define any ionic compound (soluble or insoluble) that is formed from a reaction between an acid and a base. (In chemistry, the word salt refers to more than just table salt.) For example, the balanced chemical equation for the reaction between HCl(aq) and KOH(aq) is

\[\ce{HCl(aq) + KOH(aq) → H2O(ℓ) + KCl(aq)}\nonumber \]

where the salt is KCl. By counting the number of atoms of each element, we find that only one water molecule is formed as a product. However, in the reaction between HCl(aq) and Mg(OH)₂(aq), additional molecules of HCl and H₂O are required to balance the chemical equation:

\[\ce{2HCl(aq) + Mg(OH)2(aq) → 2H2O(ℓ) + MgCl2(aq)}\nonumber \]

Here, the salt is MgCl₂. (This is one of several reactions that take place when a type of antacid—a base—is used to treat stomach acid.)

Example \(\PageIndex{1}\):

Write the neutralization reactions between each acid and base.

HNO₃(aq) and Ba(OH)₂(aq)
H₃PO₄(aq) and Ca(OH)_2(aq)

Solution

First, we will write the chemical equation with the formulas of the reactants and the expected products; then we will balance the equation.

The expected products are water and barium nitrate, so the initial chemical reaction is \[\ce{HNO3(aq) + Ba(OH)2(aq) → H2O(ℓ) + Ba(NO3)2(aq)}\nonumber \]
To balance the equation, we need to realize that there will be two H₂O molecules, so two HNO₃ molecules are required: \[\ce{2HNO3(aq) + Ba(OH)2(aq) → 2H2O(ℓ) + Ba(NO3)2(aq)}\nonumber \]

This chemical equation is now balanced.
The expected products are water and calcium phosphate, so the initial chemical equation is \[\ce{H3PO4(aq) + Ca(OH)2(aq) → H2O(ℓ) + Ca3(PO4)2(s)}\nonumber \]
According to the solubility rules, Ca₃(PO₄)₂ is insoluble, so it has an (s) phase label. To balance this equation, we need two phosphate ions and three calcium ions. We end up with six water molecules to balance the equation: \[\ce{2H3PO4(aq) + 3Ca(OH)2(aq) → 6H2O(ℓ) + Ca3(PO4)2(s)}\nonumber \]

This chemical equation is now balanced.

Exercise \(\PageIndex{1}\)

Write the neutralization reaction between H₂SO₄(aq) and Sr(OH)₂(aq).

Answer

\[\ce{H2SO4(aq) + Sr(OH)2(aq) → 2H2O(ℓ) + SrSO4(aq)}\nonumber \]

Neutralization reactions are one type of chemical reaction that proceeds even if one reactant is not in the aqueous phase. For example, the chemical reaction between HCl(aq) and Fe(OH)₃(s) still proceeds according to the equation:

\[\ce{3HCl(aq) + Fe(OH)3(s) → 3H2O(ℓ) + FeCl3(aq)}\nonumber \]

even though Fe(OH)₃ is not soluble. When one realizes that Fe(OH)₃(s) is a component of rust, this explains why some cleaning solutions for rust stains contain acids—the neutralization reaction produces products that are soluble and wash away. (Washing with acids like HCl is one way to remove rust and rust stains, but HCl must be used with caution!)