Question

Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and hydrochloric acid (HCI) combine to make table salt (NaCl) and water (H20).
Which equation is balanced? (1 point)
• 2NaOH + 2HC| → 2NaCl + H20
• NaOH + HC| → NaCl+ H20
• NaOH + 2HC| → NaCl + H20
• 2NaOH + HC| → NaCl+ H20

Answer 1

To determine which equation is balanced, we need to ensure that the number of atoms of each element on the reactant side is equal to the number on the product side.

Let's go through each of the options:

1. **2NaOH + 2HCl → 2NaCl + H2O**
- Reactants: 2 Na, 2 O, 2 H (from NaOH) + 2 H, 2 Cl (from HCl) = 2 Na, 2 Cl, 4 H, 2 O
- Products: 2 Na, 2 Cl (from NaCl) + 2 H, 1 O (from H2O) = 2 Na, 2 Cl, 2 H, 1 O
- This equation is **not balanced** (4 H vs. 2 H and 2 O vs. 1 O).

2. **NaOH + HCl → NaCl + H2O**
- Reactants: 1 Na, 1 O, 1 H (from NaOH) + 1 H, 1 Cl (from HCl) = 1 Na, 1 Cl, 2 H, 1 O
- Products: 1 Na, 1 Cl (from NaCl) + 2 H, 1 O (from H2O) = 1 Na, 1 Cl, 2 H, 1 O
- This equation is **balanced**.

3. **NaOH + 2HCl → NaCl + H2O**
- Reactants: 1 Na, 1 O, 1 H (from NaOH) + 2 H, 2 Cl (from 2 HCl) = 1 Na, 2 Cl, 3 H, 1 O
- Products: 1 Na, 1 Cl (from NaCl) + 2 H, 1 O (from H2O) = 1 Na, 1 Cl, 2 H, 1 O
- This equation is **not balanced** (3 H vs. 2 H).

4. **2NaOH + HCl → NaCl + H2O**
- Reactants: 2 Na, 2 O, 2 H (from 2 NaOH) + 1 H, 1 Cl (from HCl) = 2 Na, 1 Cl, 3 H, 2 O
- Products: 1 Na, 1 Cl (from NaCl) + 2 H, 1 O (from H2O) = 1 Na, 1 Cl, 2 H, 1 O
- This equation is **not balanced** (3 H vs. 2 H).

The only balanced equation among the options is:

**NaOH + HCl → NaCl + H2O**.