HCl + NaOH → NaCl + H₂O

Hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide — balanced chemical equation, step by step.

This is the textbook neutralization reaction, producing only salt and water.

How to balance HCl + NaOH = NaCl + H2O

An acid–base (neutralization) reaction combines an acid and a base to produce a salt and water. Balancing means choosing coefficients so that every element has the same number of atoms on both sides of the arrow — the Law of Conservation of Mass. Here is how it's done, step by step.

Step 1 — Write the unbalanced equation

Start with the correct formulas for every reactant and product:

HCl + NaOH = NaCl + H2O

Step 2 — Count the atoms of each element

Counting the atoms on each side, every element already matches — so each coefficient is 1:

Step 3 — Add the smallest whole-number coefficients

Adjust the coefficients in front of each formula until every element balances. The smallest whole-number coefficients are 1 HCl, 1 NaOH, 1 NaCl, 1 H₂O, giving:

HCl + NaOH = NaCl + H2O

For an acid–base neutralization, balance the metal and the acid anion first, then balance hydrogen and oxygen using the water produced.

Step 4 — Verify the balance

Recount every element. Each one now matches on both sides:

All elements are balanced and the coefficients are the smallest whole numbers, so HCl + NaOH = NaCl + H2O is the correct balanced equation.

Molar masses and mole ratio

The balanced coefficients are also the mole ratio of the reaction. Using standard atomic masses, the molar mass of each substance is:

For this reaction the mole ratio is 1 : 1 : 1 : 1. Combine these molar masses with the ratio in the free stoichiometry calculator to convert between moles, grams, and the number of particles for any reactant or product.

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