Question

Which of the following is the molecular equation for the reaction of hydrochloric acid with sodium hydroxide?

A.HCl+NaOH→NaCl+H2O
B. H+ +Cl- +Na+ +OH- →Na+ +Cl- +H2O
C. H+ +Cl- +Na+ +OH- →NaCl+H2O
D.Na++Cl-→NaCl
E.H++OH-→H2O

Answer 1

The molecular equation for the reaction of hydrochloric acid (HCl) with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is HCl(aq) + NaOH(aq) → NaCl(aq) + H₂O(l). The complete ionic equation is H+ (aq) + Cl¯(aq) +Na+ (aq) +OH¯ (aq) → H₂O(l) +Na+ (aq) +Cl¯ (aq), and the net ionic equation is H+ (aq) + OH¯(aq) → H₂O(l).

Step-by-step explanation:

The molecular equation for the reaction of hydrochloric acid (HCl) with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is represented as:

HCl(aq) + NaOH(aq) → NaCl(aq) + H₂O(l)

This equation depicts the neutralization reaction that occurs when an aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid reacts with an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide, yielding an aqueous solution of sodium chloride (NaCl) and liquid water (H₂O). The complete ionic equation separates all soluble ionic compounds into their respective ions, indicating how they exist in the solution. For strong acids and bases, like HCl and NaOH, this means full ionization:

H+ (aq) + Cl⁻ (aq) + Na+ (aq) + OH⁻ (aq) → H₂O(l) + Na+ (aq) + Cl⁻ (aq)

However, the net ionic equation simplifies this by cancelling out the spectator ions (Na+ and Cl⁻), leaving only the reactive species:

H+ (aq) + OH⁻(aq) → H₂O(l)