What is the chemical reaction that occurs between an acid and a base called?

The chemical reaction that occurs between an acid and a base is known as neutralization. During this process, the acidic and basic properties of the reactants cancel each other out, resulting in the formation of water and a salt. This reaction is fundamental in chemistry because it illustrates how acids and bases interact according to the principles of acid-base chemistry.

Neutralization typically involves an acid donating a proton (H+) to a base, which often accepts that proton. This transfer alters the properties of both substances, leading to a neutral pH level in the resulting solution. The importance of understanding neutralization extends beyond theoretical concepts—it has practical applications in various fields, including chemistry, biology, and even everyday scenarios like managing pH levels in swimming pools or agricultural applications.

The other choices involve different types of reactions: oxidation refers to the process where a substance loses electrons, reduction involves a substance gaining electrons, and condensation reactions involve the joining of two molecules with the loss of a small molecule, often water. These processes do not describe the specific interaction between acids and bases that characterizes neutralization.