Final answer:
When an acid and a base react, they undergo a neutralization reaction to form water and a salt, like potassium chloride (KCl), which results from the reaction between hydrochloric acid (HCl) and potassium hydroxide (KOH).
Step-by-step explanation:
When an acid and a base combine, they typically undergo a neutralization reaction, producing water and an ionic compound, commonly referred to as a salt. This process can be represented by a general chemical equation: acid + base → water + salt. Potassium chloride (KCl) is an example of a salt formed from the reaction between hydrochloric acid (HCl) and potassium hydroxide (KOH).
The relevant balanced chemical equation for this reaction is:
HCl(aq) + KOH(aq) → H₂O(l) + KCl(aq)
Through this neutralization reaction, the positively charged potassium (K⁺) from the base combines with the negatively charged chloride (Cl⁻) from the acid to form the ionic compound potassium chloride, demonstrating the formation of a salt from an acid-base reaction.