What is neutralization reaction?

Chemical reaction where reactants are acid (##pH < 7##) and base (##pH > 7##) Products are salt (of the acid + base), and water.

reaction: ## A + B = "salt" + H_2O ##

Salts = molecules that form through combination of acid and base (acting like reactants), depending on the strenght of reactants , these salts may be neutral, acid or base. This chemical process is known as Neutralization reaction .

Example: ##NaCl## = a salt formed through combination of ##HCl## and ##NaOH##.

##pH## is a quantity that defines whether the substance has a neutral nature, is acidic or basidic. ##pH < 7## means the substance is acidic, ##pH > 7## means the substance is more basidic, ##pH## around ##7## is neutral. The smaller , the stronger acid. And vice versa. The higher pH, the stronger base. And vice versa.

Knowing this, we can divide neutralization reaction to several types:A) neutralization of strong acid + strong base This neutralization reaction goes down in storm speed, the result is neutral salt and water.

B) neutralization of strong acid + weak base The result is slightly acidic salt and water.

C) neutralization of weak acid + strong base The result is slightly basidic salt and water.

D) neutralization of weak acid + weak base This neutralization reaction goes down slowly, the resulting salt is unstable, can be acidic, basidic or even neutral, and easily reacts with other acids or bases.

Example of reaction:

##HCl + NaOH = NaCl + H_2O##

where ##HCl## is acid, ##NaOH## is base, ##NaCl## is the salt and ##H_2O## is obviously the water.