Final answer:
Aqueous sulfuric acid reacts with solid sodium hydroxide in a 1:2 molar ratio to produce soluble sodium sulfate and water in a neutralization reaction.
Step-by-step explanation:
When aqueous sulfuric acid reacts with solid sodium hydroxide, a neutralization reaction occurs. The balanced chemical equation for this reaction is:
H₂SO₄ (aq) + 2NaOH (aq) → Na₂SO₄ (aq) + 2H₂O(l)
During the reaction, two hydroxide ions (OH⁻) from the sodium hydroxide react with one sulfuric acid molecule (H₂SO₄) to produce one molecule of sodium sulfate (Na₂SO₄) and two molecules of water (H₂O). The reaction shows that sulfuric acid is a diprotic acid, meaning it can donate two protons (H⁺), and requires two hydroxide ions for complete neutralization, resulting in a 1:2 molar ratio between H₂SO₄ and NaOH. The sodium sulfate produced in this reaction is soluble in water.