Question

What happens when an acid is treated with a base (and vice versa)? How does an acid- base reaction influence the solubility of each component in solution to allow for separation?

Answer 1

Answer:

When an acid (say HA) and Base (say BOH) treated with each other - a neutralization reaction or salt and H₂O formation occurs. A pertinent equation is,

HA (aq) + BOH (aq) $\rightarrow$ AB (aq) + H₂O.

In this acid-base reaction, the acid and base both ionizes into cation H⁺ and anion HO^- by leaving behind counter ions A^- (aq) and B⁺ (aq). H⁺ and HO^- combines to form H₂O which is non-electrolyte. This influence the solubility of both Acid HA and Base BOH component as one part of each component is permanently bonded.

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