Identify the reactants in the reaction [tex]HCl + NaOH \rightarrow NaCl + H _2 O[/tex].
A. HCl and NaOH
B. Na and Cl
C. H and Cl
D. NaCl and [tex]H _2 O[/tex]
Answer (1)
The reactants in the chemical reaction H Cl + N a O H → N a Cl + H 2 O are:
Identify the substances that react: H Cl and N a O H .
Recognize the products formed: N a Cl and H 2 O .
Conclude that the reactants are H Cl and N a O H .
The correct answer is A: H Cl and N a O H .
Explanation
Identifying Reactants In a chemical reaction, the reactants are the substances that combine and change into new substances. In the given reaction, we have:
The Reaction Equation H Cl + N a O H → N a Cl + H 2 O
Reactants in the Equation Here, H Cl (hydrochloric acid) and N a O H (sodium hydroxide) are the substances that react with each other.
Products of the Reaction The products of this reaction are N a Cl (sodium chloride, or table salt) and H 2 O (water).
Conclusion Therefore, the reactants are H Cl and N a O H . The correct answer is A.
Examples
In everyday life, understanding reactants and products is crucial. For example, when you bake a cake, the flour, sugar, eggs, and butter are the reactants. When these ingredients are mixed and heated, they undergo a chemical reaction to form the cake, which is the product. Similarly, in cleaning, vinegar (acetic acid) and baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) react to produce carbon dioxide, water, and sodium acetate, which helps to remove dirt and grime. Identifying reactants and products helps us understand and control chemical processes around us.
