Final answer:
The balanced equation for the reaction between sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide is H2SO4 (aq) + 2NaOH (aq) → Na2SO4 (aq) + 2H2O(l), indicating a neutralization reaction that produces sodium sulfate and water.
Step-by-step explanation:
The balanced chemical equation for the reaction between sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is H2SO4 (aq) + 2NaOH (aq) → Na2SO4 (aq) + 2H2O(l). In this reaction, sulfuric acid is a diprotic acid, meaning it can donate two protons (H+).
Therefore, to fully neutralize the acid, two moles of sodium hydroxide are required for every one mole of sulfuric acid, resulting in the formation of sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) and water (H2O). This is a neutralization reaction where the hydroxide ions (OH−) from the sodium hydroxide react with the protons (H+) from sulfuric acid to form water, while the sodium ions (Na+) combine with the sulfate ions (SO42−) to form sodium sulfate.