Which of the following is the balanced molecular equation for the reaction between NaOH and HNO₃?

• A. NaOH + 2HNO₃ → Na(NO₃)₂ + H₂O
• B. NaOH + HNO₃ → NaNO₂ + H₂O
• C. 2NaOH + HNO₃ → NaNO₃ + 2H₂O
• D. NaOH + HNO₃ → NaNO₃ + H₂O

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the reactants and products in the chemical reaction. The reactants are NaOH (sodium hydroxide) and HNO₃ (nitric acid), and the products are NaNO₃ (sodium nitrate) and H₂O (water).
2. Write the unbalanced chemical equation using the chemical formulas of the reactants and products: NaOH + HNO₃ → NaNO₃ + H₂O.
3. Check the number of atoms of each element on both sides of the equation to ensure they are equal. In this case, there is 1 Na, 1 O, 1 H, and 1 N on both sides, indicating the equation is balanced.
4. Verify that the stoichiometry of the reaction is correct. Each molecule of NaOH reacts with one molecule of HNO₃ to produce one molecule of NaNO₃ and one molecule of H₂O, which matches the balanced equation.
5. Conclude that the balanced molecular equation for the reaction between NaOH and HNO₃ is NaOH + HNO₃ → NaNO₃ + H₂O, as it satisfies the law of conservation of mass with equal numbers of each type of atom on both sides.