Question

Identify the correct reactant and product(s) among the following options when the reactant reacts with hydrochloric acid.

• A. Reactant - Sodium hydroxide
  Product - Sodium chloride + Water
• B. Reactant - Sodium hydroxide
  Product - Sodium chloride
• C. Reactant - Sodium chloride
  Product - Sodium hydroxide
• D. Reactant - Sodium chloride
  Product - Sodium hydroxide + Water

Answer 1

The correct option is A Reactant - Sodium hydroxide

Product - Sodium chloride + Water
An acid reacts with a base to form salt and water. This is known as neutralisation reaction. Hydrochloric acid will react with a base to form salt and water. Here, sodium hydroxide $\left(\text{NaOH}\right)$ is a base. So it will react with hydrochloric acid $\left(\text{HCl}\right)$ to form sodium chloride salt $\left(\text{NaCl}\right)$ and water $\left({\text{H}}_2\text{O}\right)$.
The reaction involved is:

$\text{HCl(aq)}+\text{NaOH(aq)}\to \text{NaCl(aq)}+{\text{H}}_2\text{O(l)}$

So, reactant is sodium hydroxide and products are sodium chloride and water.