Chemical Reaction between Sodium Hydroxide and Phosphoric Acid

What products are produced when sodium hydroxide reacts with phosphoric acid?

1. Sodium phosphate and water

2. Sodium hydroxide and phosphoric acid

3. Sodium chloride and hydrogen gas

4. Sodium carbonate and carbon dioxide

Answer:

The reaction between sodium hydroxide and phosphoric acid produces sodium phosphate and water as products.

The reaction of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) with phosphoric acid (H3PO4) is an example of an acid-base neutralization reaction. In this reaction, sodium hydroxide fully dissociates into sodium (Na+) and hydroxide (OH­) ions in solution. The phosphoric acid, being a triprotic acid, has the potential to react with the hydroxide ions in three steps to ultimately form various sodium phosphate salts and water as the neutralization progresses. The balanced chemical equation for the complete reaction is: 3 NaOH(aq) + H3PO4(aq) → Na3PO4(aq) + 3 H2O(l).