What is the name of the reaction in which an acid and a base react to form water and a salt?

The reaction in which an acid and a base react to form water and a salt is known as a neutralization reaction. In this process, the acid donates protons (H⁺ ions) to the base, which provides hydroxide ions (OH⁻). When they combine, they form water (H₂O), and the remaining components of the acid and base combine to form a salt. This is a classic type of reaction in acid-base chemistry that illustrates the property of acids and bases interacting with each other in a way that neutralizes their effects, leading to products that typically have less acidity or basicity compared to the reactants.

Neutralization reactions are essential in various applications, including the preparation of salts, in titration procedures in analytical chemistry, and in many biological and industrial processes where pH balance is important.