Final answer:
To balance the chemical equation for the reaction between calcium hydroxide and nitric acid, we write Ca(OH)2(aq) + 2HNO3(aq) → Ca(NO3)2(aq) + 2H2O(l). The balanced equation shows the formation of the salt calcium nitrate and water.
Step-by-step explanation:
To balance the chemical equation for the neutralization reaction between calcium hydroxide and nitric acid, we should ensure that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation. We start by writing the unbalanced equation:
Ca(OH)2(aq) + HNO3(aq) → Ca(NO3)2(aq) + H2O(l)
After examining the equation, we can see that there are two nitrate (NO3-) ions in calcium nitrate, so we will need two HNO3 molecules to provide these nitrate ions. To balance the hydroxide (OH-) ions, we will also need two molecules of water (H2O). This leads us to the balanced chemical equation:
Ca(OH)2(aq) + 2HNO3(aq) → Ca(NO3)2(aq) + 2H2O(l)
The salt that is produced in this neutralization reaction is calcium nitrate.