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Amanda Jiang

Chemical Reactions Neutralization

Amanda Jiang Mr. Casterton SNC2D 1

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Amanda Jiang

Acids are compounds that dissolve in water to produce solutions containing hydronium ions (H3O+), and bases dissolve in water to produce hydroxide ions (HO). When an acidic solution and a basic solution combine, hydroxide ions react with hydronium ions to produce water molecules and, if the water were to be evaporated from the solution, salt. This process is called Neutralization. Neutralisation is the process in which the pH, a measure of acidity is changed to the extent that it goes from being base to a Neutral or from being acidic to Neutral; usually occurring when an acid is added to a base. In this example below, Hydrogen Chloride (Acid) and Sodium Hydroxide (Base) react together into Water and Salt.
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Neutralization is an important reaction in chemistry as it impacts both social and environmental areas. One important aspect in society is having access to clean water. In order to access clean water, the first step of wastewater treatment is to neutralize the wastewater effluents. Wastewater effluents are the largest source of water pollution in Canada. Wastewater effluents may contain many pollutants that include debris, disease-causing pathogens, decaying organic wastes, nutrients and hundreds of chemicals.
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Wastewater must be treated in order to have clean water ready for use. One method for treating industrial wastewater is neutralization . Before the effluents can be treated, they must have a pH within range of 6 to 8.5. Many industrial wastewaters possess a pH that is either too high or too low for further treatment. Hence, neutralization is used to balance the solution. If the water is too acidic, it can be solved by adding a base like sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and Ammonium Hydroxide (NH4OH). If the water contains too much base, it is solved by adding an acid like sulfuric acid (H2SO4), Ammonia (NH3) or Lime (Ca(OH)2).
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The purpose of neutralization is to adjust the pH value in order to meet the requirements for future processing parts in the wastewater treatment system. This step is conducted before the main process of wastewater treatment to adhere to overall wastewater treatment objectives. Neutralization is an essential chemical reaction because it solves the problem of treating wastewater effluents, which impacts an essential part of human health and most importantly, the environment and society.

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"Neutralization Reactions." Neutralization Reactions. Memphis Department of Chemistry, n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2013. "Wastewater." Government of Canada, Environment Canada, Environmental Stewardship Branch, Public and Resources Sectors, Section. Canada.gc.ca, n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2013. 3 Nurul Hidayah Abd Latip, Nurul. "Neutralisation in Our Daily Lives." Neutralisation in Our Daily Lives. N.p., 2009. Web. 24 Oct. 2013. 4 Armenante, Piero M., Ph.D. "Neutralization of Acid and Alkaline Wastewaters." NJIT, 20 Feb. 1997. Web. 24 Oct. 2013.

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Amanda Jiang

Bibliography 1. Nurul Hidayah Abd Latip, Nurul. "Neutralisation in Our Daily Lives." Neutralisation in Our Daily Lives. N.p., 2009. Web. 24 Oct. 2013. "Wastewater." Government of Canada, Environment Canada, Environmental Stewardship Branch, Public and Resources Sectors, Section. Canada.gc.ca, n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2013. Armenante, Piero M., Ph.D. "Neutralization of Acid and Alkaline Wastewaters." NJIT, 20 Feb. 1997. Web. 24 Oct. 2013. "Neutralization Reactions." Neutralization Reactions. Memphis Department of Chemistry, n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2013.

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