Final answer:
Neutralization refers to the chemical reaction where an acid and a base react to form a salt and water, typically occurring in an aqueous solution.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term neutralization refers to the reaction between an acid and a base to form a salt and water. This process is a type of acid-base reaction where the reactants are an aqueous acid and base, and not water itself. For instance, when acetic acid (CH3CO2H) reacts with sodium hydroxide (NaOH), the products are sodium acetate (a salt) and water (H2O). The general formula for a neutralization reaction is acid + base → salt + water. This type of reaction is important in various chemical processes, including chemistry titrations, and in understanding the concept of pH balance in various environments.