Reactions of Acids and Bases

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Neutralization reaction Noun

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[noo-truh-li-zay-shun ree-ak-shun]

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Neutralization reaction

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A chemical reaction in which an acid and a base react in an aqueous solution to produce a salt and water.

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Example: This image shows that when an acid (Hydrogen Chloride) and a base (Sodium Hydroxide) are mixed, they react to form a neutral salt (Sodium Chloride) and water.

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Salt Noun

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[sawlt]

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Salt

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An ionic compound formed from the cation of a base and the anion of an acid during a neutralization reaction.

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Example: This image shows the structure of a salt, which is made of positive (Na+) and negative (Cl-) ions held together in a repeating crystal pattern.

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Mole ratio Noun

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[mohl ray-shee-oh]

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Mole ratio

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The ratio between the number of moles of any two substances involved in a chemical reaction, based on equation coefficients.

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Example: This diagram shows that for every 2 atoms of sulfur (S) and 3 molecules of oxygen (O₂), 2 molecules of sulfur trioxide (SO₃) are formed.

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Monoprotic acid Noun

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[mon-oh-proh-tik as-id]

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Monoprotic acid

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An acid that can donate only one proton, or hydrogen ion, per molecule during ionization in an aqueous solution.

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Example: This image shows a molecule of Hydrochloric Acid (HCl), which is a monoprotic acid because it has only one hydrogen (H) atom to donate.

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Diprotic acid Noun

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[dy-proh-tik as-id]

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Diprotic acid

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An acid that is capable of donating two protons, or hydrogen ions, per molecule during its ionization process.

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Example: This diagram shows phosphorous acid. It is a diprotic acid because it can give away the two hydrogen atoms (H) that are attached to oxygen atoms.

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Salt hydrolysis Noun

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[sawlt hy-drol-uh-sis]

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Salt hydrolysis

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A process where ions from a dissociated salt react with water, causing the resulting solution to become acidic or basic.

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Example: An ion from a salt, like the aluminum ion shown, reacts with water. This reaction produces hydronium ions (H₃O⁺), which makes the solution acidic.

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Conjugate acid Noun

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[kon-juh-git as-id]

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Conjugate acid

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The chemical species that is formed when a Brønsted-Lowry base accepts a proton from an acid during a reaction.

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Example: When a base like ammonia (NH3) accepts a hydrogen ion from an acid, it becomes a conjugate acid, in this case, the ammonium ion (NH4+).

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Conjugate base Noun

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[kon-juh-git bays]

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Conjugate base

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The chemical species that remains after a Brønsted-Lowry acid has donated a proton to a base during a reaction.

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Example: When an acid (like the ammonium ion, NH₄⁺) gives away a proton (H⁺), the molecule that is left behind (ammonia, NH₃) is called the conjugate base.

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Acidic cation Noun

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[uh-sid-ik kat-ahy-on]

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Acidic cation

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A cation, which is the conjugate acid of a weak base, that reacts with water to make a solution acidic.

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Example: This diagram shows a metal cation (Al³⁺) attracting water molecules, which weakens their bonds and makes it easier to release a hydrogen ion (H⁺).

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Basic anion Noun

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[bay-sik an-ahy-on]

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Basic anion

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An anion, which is the conjugate base of a weak acid, that reacts with water to make a solution basic.

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Example: A neutral chlorine atom (Cl) gains an electron to become a negatively charged chloride anion (Cl⁻), demonstrating how anions are formed.