Question

The equation shows a neutralization reaction: `H_2SO_4 + 2NaOH -> Na2SO_4 + 2H_2O`. What is `Na2SO_4`?

Answer 1

`"Na"_2"SO"_4` is the salt.

Explanation:

For a neutralization reaction, between a Brønsted-Lowry acid and a Brønsted-Lowry base, the products are always water (`"H"_2"O"`) and a salt.

This salt is the ionic compound formed from the cation of the base and the anion of the acid. The base here is `"NaOH"`, and the acid is `"H"_2"SO"_4`. The chemical equation shows this via exchanging the cations, just like any double-replacement reaction:

`2color(red)("Na")color(blue)("OH")(aq) + color(blue)("H"_2)color(red)("SO"_4)(aq) rarr color(red)("Na"_2"SO"_4)(aq) +2color(blue)("H"_2"O")(l)`