Question

Consider this reaction: acid $+$ base $\to$ salt $+$ water. What type of reaction is this?

Answer 1

Chemical reactions of different types depending upon the nature of reactant take part in the reaction as well as the nature of the product formed at the end of chemical reaction. Chemical reactions may be: combustion, neutralization, addition, displacement and many more.

Complete Step By Step Answer:
Many theories are used today which differentiate an acid from base. From the concept of basic theory, Arrhenius acids have a tendency to donate hydronium ions and base donate hydroxide ions in aqueous medium.
Hence when an acid reacts with any base it will lead to the formation of neutral compound which is known as salt along with formation of water as a byproduct.
The process of formation of salt by a chemical reaction between an acid and a base is known as neutralization reaction.
Example: reaction between hydrochloric acid $\left( {HCl} \right)$ with ph range below $2$ and sodium hydroxide $\left( {NaOH} \right)$ with ph range above $8$ , will leads to the formation of salt of sodium known as sodium chloride $\left( {NaCl} \right)$ with ph around $7$ accompanied with removal of molecule of water $\left( {{H_2}O} \right)$ .
$HCl + NaOH \to NaCl + {H_2}O$
Hence, we see that the final product has a nearly neutral pH range therefore it is known as neutralization reaction.
$\Rightarrow$ The reaction: acid $+$ base $\to$ salt $+$ water is a type of neutralization reaction.

Note:
During the neutralization reaction, oxidation number of any reactant and product do not change because no transfer of electrons takes place between the reactants. Neutralization reaction should not get confused with ionization reaction which form the somehow same product but proceeds with transfer of electrons.