Answer:
H+(aq) + OH-(aq) → H2O(l)
Step-by-step explanation:
Step 1: Data given
aqueous sodium hydroxide = NaOH(aq)
aqueous hydrochloric acid =HCl(aq)
Step 2: The (un)balanced equation
HCl(aq) + NaOH(aq) → NaCl(aq) + H2O(l)
For 1 mol HCl we need 1 mol NaOH to produce 1 mol NaCl and 1 mol H2O
This equation is already balanced.
Step 3: The net ionic equation
H+(aq) + Cl-(aq) + Na+(aq) + OH-(aq) → Na+(aq) + Cl-(aq) + H2O(l)
The net ionic equation, for which spectator ions are omitted - remember that spectator ions are those ions located on both sides of the equation - will , after canceling those spectator ions in both side, look like this:
H+(aq) + OH-(aq) → H2O(l) (The last option is correct)