Why is #"NaOH"# a base?

1 Answer
Meave60
Dec 10, 2017

#"NaOH"# is a base because it forms a sodium cation and a hydroxide ion in aqueous solution, #"Na"^(+)("aq)"#, and #"OH"^(-)("aq")#.

Explanation:

#"NaOH"# is a base because it forms a sodium cation and a hydroxide ion in aqueous solution, #"Na"^(+)("aq)"#, and #"OH"^(-)("aq")#.

Acids give up hydrogen ions, #"H"^(+)("aq")"# in aqueous solutions. An example of an acid is hydrochoric acid, #"HCl(aq)"#.

Acids and bases react to form a salt and water. This is called a neutralization reaction.

#"NaOH(aq) + HCl(aq)"##rarr##"NaCl(aq) + H"_2"O(l)"#

Related questions
Impact of this question
9467 views around the world
You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License