What products would you expect from a reaction between HCl and KOH?
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answer: The products of the reaction between hydrochloric acid (HCl) and potassium hydroxide (KOH) are potassium chloride (KCl) and water (H₂O).
Balanced chemical equation:
HCl + KOH → KCl + H₂O
Explanation:
This reaction is a classic example of an acid-base neutralization. Hydrochloric acid (HCl) is a strong acid that dissociates completely in water to release hydrogen ions (H⁺) and chloride ions (Cl⁻). Potassium hydroxide (KOH) is a strong base that dissociates completely to release potassium ions (K⁺) and hydroxide ions (OH⁻).
When these two substances are mixed, the hydrogen ion (H⁺) from HCl reacts with the hydroxide ion (OH⁻) from KOH. This reaction produces a molecule of water (H₂O), which is neutral. The remaining ions, potassium (K⁺) and chloride (Cl⁻), stay in solution and form the salt potassium chloride (KCl).
This type of reaction always follows the same pattern:
Acid + Base → Salt + Water
The formation of water makes the solution less acidic or less basic, depending on the initial concentrations. In this specific reaction, both the acid and base are strong, so they neutralize each other completely. The resulting solution is neutral, with a pH close to 7.
Potassium chloride is a common salt used in fertilizers and as a substitute for sodium chloride in low-sodium diets. This reaction also demonstrates the conservation of mass and charge. All the atoms present in the reactants are also present in the products, and the overall electrical charge remains balanced on both sides of the equation.
This reaction has many applications in laboratory titrations and industrial processes where pH control is important.