Question

How can you identify neutralization reactions?

Answer 1

A neutralization is a double displacement reaction in which one of the products is water.

You can read about neutralization and double displacement reactions at

http://socratic.org/questions/is-a-neutralization-reaction-a-type-of-double-displacement

A double displacement reaction has the form

AB+ CD → AD + CB

In a neutralization reaction, there will be an "H" in one reactant and an "OH" in the other reactant. One of the products will water, H-OH (H₂O).

Thus, the neutralization reaction

HCl + NaOH → HOH + NaCl

has the form

"H"B + C"OH" → HOH + CB

and is a double displacement reaction.