What type of reaction is defined as neutralization?

Neutralization is specifically defined as a reaction that occurs between an acid and a base, resulting in the formation of water and a salt. This type of reaction is important in various chemical processes, including titrations in analytical chemistry and various industrial applications.

During neutralization, the hydrogen ions (H⁺) from the acid combine with the hydroxide ions (OH⁻) from the base to form water (H₂O). The remaining components of the acid and base then react to form a salt. This process gets rid of the acidic and basic properties of the reactants, thereby achieving a balanced state.

The distinction in this definition highlights why other options do not accurately represent neutralization. For example, a reaction that produces carbon dioxide typically involves vinegar and baking soda, but it is not a neutralization reaction. Similarly, a reaction between two metals occurs via a different mechanism, and decomposition reactions involve the breakdown of a single compound into multiple products, which does not apply here. These contrasting descriptions reinforce that the defining characteristic of neutralization is specifically centered around the interaction between an acid and a base.