HAZMAT Technician Practice Exam

What occurs when an acid reacts with a base?

1. Formation of gas only

2. Formation of salts

3. Release of heat only

4. Neutralization without any products

The correct answer is: Formation of salts

When an acid reacts with a base, the chemical reaction primarily results in the formation of a salt and water, which is a characteristic outcome of neutralization reactions. This process involves the acid donating protons (H+) to the base, which accepts them, allowing for the formation of water (H2O) and a salt composed of the cation from the base and the anion from the acid. The neutralization reaction can be summarized as follows: Acid + Base → Salt + Water. This reaction does not exclusively produce gas, heat, or lack products, but rather results in the formation of specific products—salts and water—demonstrating the key concept of acid-base chemistry. Every acid-base reaction leads to these products, making the formation of salts a fundamental aspect of such interactions.