When HNO₃ reacts with NaOH, which product is formed?
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A
OH⁻
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B
H₃O⁺
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C
NaH
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D
NaNO₃
The product formed is NaNO₃, sodium nitrate.
This is a classic acid-base neutralization reaction between a strong acid (nitric acid, HNO₃) and a strong base (sodium hydroxide, NaOH). Such reactions typically produce a salt and water.
A) OH⁻
Hydroxide ion is a reactant, coming from the dissociation of NaOH. It is consumed during the neutralization reaction when it combines with H⁺ to form water. It is not a product of the reaction.
B) H₃O⁺
Hydronium ion represents the hydrated proton (H⁺) in aqueous acidic solutions. In this reaction, the H⁺ from HNO₃ and the OH⁻ from NaOH combine to form neutral H₂O molecules. While H₃O⁺ exists in the acidic solution before the reaction, it is consumed and is not a final product of the completed neutralization. The net ionic equation is H⁺(aq) + OH⁻(aq) → H₂O(l).
C) NaH
Sodium hydride is an ionic compound consisting of Na⁺ and the hydride ion H⁻. It is formed under very different conditions, typically by direct reaction of sodium metal with hydrogen gas at high temperatures. It is not a product of an aqueous acid-base reaction. The hydrogen from the acid ends up in water, not as a hydride ion.
D) NaNO₃
The complete molecular equation is: HNO₃(aq) + NaOH(aq) → H₂O(l) + NaNO₃(aq). The sodium ion (Na⁺) from the base and the nitrate ion (NO₃⁻) from the acid combine to form the ionic salt sodium nitrate, which remains dissolved in the aqueous solution. This is the salt product of the neutralization.
Conclusion:
Acid-base neutralization reactions between an acid and a metal hydroxide produce a salt (composed of the cation from the base and the anion from the acid) and water. For nitric acid and sodium hydroxide, the salt product is sodium nitrate (NaNO₃).

Topic Flashcards
Click to FlipWhat type of chemical reaction is represented by HNO₃(aq) + NaOH(aq) → H₂O(l) + NaNO₃(aq)?
An acid-base neutralization reaction.
What are the two products formed when nitric acid (HNO₃) completely neutralizes sodium hydroxide (NaOH)?
Water (H₂O) and a salt—sodium nitrate (NaNO₃).
What is the name and chemical formula of the ionic compound (salt) produced in this reaction?
Sodium nitrate, with the formula NaNO₃. Front: Which specific ions from the reactants c
Which specific ions from the reactants combine to form the salt NaNO₃?
The sodium cation (Na⁺) from NaOH and the nitrate anion (NO₃⁻) from HNO₃.
What is the net ionic equation that shows the essential chemical change in this neutralization?
H⁺(aq) + OH⁻(aq) → H₂O(l). (The Na⁺ and NO₃⁻ ions are spectator ions.)