Final answer:
Option (a) base + acid → salt + water is the correct equation for a neutralization reaction, which typically involves the combination of an acid and a base to produce a salt and water.
Step-by-step explanation:
The equation that represents a neutralization reaction is base + acid → salt + water. In chemistry, a neutralization reaction occurs when an acid and a base react in an aqueous solution to produce a salt and water. For instance, the classic example of a neutralization reaction is between hydrochloric acid (HCl) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH), which results in the formation of sodium chloride (NaCl) and water (H2O); this can be written as: HCl(aq) + NaOH(aq) → NaCl(aq) + H2O(l). Therefore, option (a) is the correct choice.