Different reactions produce different results. Reactions between strong acids and strong bases decompose more completely into hydrogen ions (protons, positively charged ions) and anions (negatively charged ions) in water. For a weak acid and a weak base, neutralization is more appropriately considered to involve direct proton transfer from the acid to the base. If one of the reactants is present in great excess, the reaction can produce a salt (or its solution), which can be acidic, basic, or neutral depending on the strength of the acids and bases reacting with one another.
How do acids and bases neutralize one another (or cancel each other out)?
What are acids and bases?
Acids are substances that contain one or more hydrogen atoms that, in solution, are released as positively charged hydrogen ions. An acid in a water solution tastes sour, changes the colour of blue litmus paper to red, reacts with some metals (e.g., iron) to liberate hydrogen, reacts with bases to form salts, and promotes certain chemical reactions (acid catalysis). Bases are substances that taste bitter and change the colour of red litmus paper to blue. Bases react with acids to form salts and promote certain chemical reactions (base catalysis).
