What is produced when an acid reacts with a base?

When an acid reacts with a base, the primary products of this neutralization reaction are salt and water. In this process, an acid donates a proton (H+) to the base, which typically has hydroxide ions (OH-). The combination of H+ from the acid and OH- from the base forms water (H2O).

The remaining components combine to form a salt, which is an ionic compound. The specific salt produced depends on the particular acid and base involved in the reaction. For instance, if hydrochloric acid (HCl) reacts with sodium hydroxide (NaOH), the resulting salt is sodium chloride (NaCl), along with water.

This reaction is fundamental in acid-base chemistry and illustrates the characteristics of neutralization reactions, where the properties of the acid and base are effectively "neutralized." Hence, the formation of both salt and water is a characteristic outcome of this type of chemical reaction.