Question

I'm confused and would really appreciate some help. I'm being asked what chemical compound is formed in the reaction of mixing 10 mL of hydrochloric acid + 10 mL sodium hydroxide in a beaker. Then the second part of the question asks, what chemical has been used up in the reaction? This is my first chemistry class, and I'm completely lost on how to find the answer.

Answer 1

Hydrochloric acid has the molecular formula HCl
Sodium Hydroxide has the molecular formula NaOH

Do you know you get when you mix a acid and a base?

Answer 2

oh You aren't even on lol well I will just go over the solution then

Answer 3

The first part of the question you have to REMEMBER

A strong acid in this case HCl plus A strong base in this case NaOH always produces water and a salt (in this case NaCl)

so set up the formula

HCl + NaOH -> H2O + NaCl

notice that the equation is balanced becuase both sides have the same amount of atoms, for example notice there are 2Hydrogens on the left and the right, 1 Oxygen on the left and the right, 1 Na on the left and the right etc. Remember conservation of mass, atoms aren't created out of nothing (remember chemistry is the study of the movement of electrons).

The Second Part:

Well remember a strong base and a strong acid are called so because they dissociate fully when added to solution.

Thus we are left with Na+ and OH- floating around with Cl- and Na+
The OH will react with the H to form water, and the Na+ and Cl- will remain ions in solution but can come together to form sodium molecules.

Notice also that the reaction is 1 to 1, in that for 1mole of HCl 1mole of NaOH is consumed.

Based on this knowledge you can conclude that both reactants will be both fully consumed by the reaction.

Which make sense because they will neutralize each other resulting in a salt water solution