Water in Neutralization

[Isaac Wen]

Is water always a product in neutralization? I'm looking at the answer key for textbook question J.9 part b and I'm really confused as to why there is no water on the right side of the chemical equation.

[Claire_Latendresse_1E]

It looks like water and a salt are the products when a strong acid/base reacts. All of the other parts in J.9 have a strong acid or a strong base on the reactants side, and they'll go on to form a salt and water. Part b consists of a weak acid and a weak base reacting, and they go on to form the two ions instead. Also, the formation of water in that reaction would be pretty unfavorable because you would have to sever and create more bonds in order to form water.

[Lily Kiamanesh 2G]

I believe that in most cases water will be a product, but it definitely will be in strong acid/ base neutralizations because in those, the base will release a hydroxide and the acid will release a proton, which together can easily form a water molecule.

[Isaac Wen]

Ahhh that makes a lot of sense. Thank you for your help!