Question

Sodium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid react as shown in this equation.
$\underset{\left(aq\right)}{NaOH}+\underset{\left(aq\right)}{HCl}\to \underset{\left(aq\right)}{NaCl}+\underset{\left(l\right)}{H_{2}O}$
i) Which type of chemical reaction is this?
ii) The reaction is exothermic. Explain what that means.
iii) Differentiate exothermic reaction and endothermic reaction.
iv) What happens to the temperature of the solution as the chemicals react?

Answer 1

(i) This is a type of exothermic reaction.

(ii) By exothermic, we simply mean that heat is evolved when the reaction takes place.

(iii) In exothermic reaction, heat is evolved in the reaction whereas in endothermic reaction heat is given for reaction to proceed.

(iv) In the given above reaction, as the heat will evolve therefore temperature of the solution will increase as the chemical reacts.