When sodium reacts with hydrochloric acid (HCl), a vigorous chemical reaction occurs, resulting in the formation of sodium chloride (NaCl) and hydrogen gas (H2). The balanced chemical equation for this reaction is as follows:
2Na + 2HCl -> 2NaCl + H2
In this equation, two moles of sodium (2Na) react with two moles of hydrochloric acid (2HCl), producing two moles of sodium chloride (2NaCl) and one mole of hydrogen gas (H2). The reaction releases energy in the form of heat and is highly exothermic. The hydrogen gas is typically observed as bubbles during the reaction, and the resulting sodium chloride is a white crystalline solid that remains dissolved in the solution.