ACS Chemistry Practice Exam 2026 – The All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

When a strong acid reacts with a strong base, the primary products formed are salt and water through a process known as neutralization. In this reaction, the hydrogen ions (H⁺) from the acid combine with the hydroxide ions (OH⁻) from the base to produce water (H₂O). The remaining ions from both the acid and base then combine to form the salt. The general equation for such a reaction can be represented as:

Acid (strong) + Base (strong) → Salt + Water

This reaction emphasizes the proton transfer mechanism characteristic of acid-base chemistry, where the formation of water is a significant component of the reaction. The resulting salt is derived from the counterions of the acid and base involved in the reaction.

The other possibilities, while they may occur in specific scenarios, do not represent the typical outcome of a strong acid reacting with a base. For instance, gas formation could occur under certain conditions but is not a standard result of every acid-base reaction. Similarly, hydrogen and oxygen gases are not products of a straightforward neutralization reaction. Thus, the formation of both salt and water is the defining characteristic of a neutralization reaction involving a strong acid and a strong base.