Identify the missing reactant for the following reaction.Carboxylic acid + _________ → salt + water

Missing Reactant Identification

1. Break Down the Problem In the given reaction, we are dealing with a carboxylic acid reacting to produce a salt and water. This reaction is characteristic of neutralization.

2. Relevant Concepts The relevant concept here is the neutralization reaction between an acid and a base. Carboxylic acids (RCOOH) react with bases (BOH) to form a salt (RCOO⁻B⁺) and water (H₂O).

3. Analysis and Detail

   • The carboxylic acid (RCOOH) donates a proton (H⁺) to the base (BOH).
   • The base accepts the proton and releases hydroxide ions (OH⁻).
   • The reaction can be summarized as: $\text{RCOOH} + \text{BOH} \rightarrow \text{RCOO}^- \text{B}^+ + \text{H}_2\text{O}$

4. Verify and Summarize The missing reactant in the equation is a base, which can be anything from sodium hydroxide (NaOH), potassium hydroxide (KOH), etc. Therefore, the missing reactant can be any basic hydroxide that would yield a salt and water.

Final Answer

The missing reactant is a base, typically represented as a metal hydroxide (e.g., NaOH).