When hydrochloric acid (HCl) reacts with sodium hydroxide (NaOH), a neutralization reaction occurs. The balanced chemical equation for this reaction is:
HCl + NaOH -> NaCl + H2O
In this reaction, the hydrogen ion (H+) from the hydrochloric acid combines with the hydroxide ion (OH-) from the sodium hydroxide to form water (H2O). The sodium ion (Na+) from the sodium hydroxide combines with the chloride ion (Cl-) from the hydrochloric acid to form sodium chloride (NaCl) as a salt.
