what kind of reaction will occur if u mix caustic soda (sodium hydroxide) with acetic acid (vinegar)?

Answer 1

Neutralisation.

Remember :-
Base + Acid = Salt + Water

Sodium Hydroxide + Ethanoic Acid = Sodium Ethanoate + Water

NaOH + CH3COOH = CH3COO-Na+ + H2O

NB
1. Under the modern chemical nomenclature, Ethanoic Acid is the correct name for Acetic Acid. Vinegar is the 'everyday' name.
2. Grammatically, you would start a sentence with a capital letter. In your question the first word should read 'What ...'

Answer 2

If the reaction occurs in solution, then:
Na+(aq) + OH-(aq) + HC2H3O2(aq) <--> Na+(aq) +C2H3O2-(aq) +H2O(l)
(for the net ionic, Na cancels out as a spectator ion)
so:
OH-(aq) + HC2H3O2(aq) <--> Na+(aq) +C2H3O2-(aq)
This is the reaction of a weak acid (which doesn't ionize completely and goes to equilibrium) with a strong base, which produces a weak base (acetate is the negative ion of a weak acid, and therefore a strong base), and water. Therefore, this is an acid-base (strong base-weak acid) reaction.

But that is not all so keep reading!

Acetate is a weak acid because it goes to equilibrium rather than ionizing completely, as can be seen by the following equation:
HC2H3O2(aq) <--> H+(aq) + C2H3O2-(aq)

Acetate ion acts as a weak base, as can be seen by the following Kb (equilibrium of a base) equation:
C2H3O2-(aq) + H2O <--> HC2H3O2(aq) + OH- (aq)
Therefore, since Kb's always go into equilibroum, and once the sodium is disregarded, the original equation is this Kb, the reaction goes into equilibrium. This means that the reaction is not only acid-base, but specifically the reverse of the Kb of acetate.

IMPORTANT: this is NOT a neutralization because a neutralization can only occur with the combination of equal moles of a STRONG acid and strong base. This problem includes a weak acid. In a true neutralization, the only product is water. In this reaction, the product is not just water, and not even neutral (it contains a weak base)

Answer 3

Acid plus alkali produces salt plus water. These two ingredients are likely to react quite rapidly so keep well back and wear protective goggles. More importantly, caustic soda needs very careful handling as even a speck on your hands will burn your skin. Gloves must be worn and I would wear a mask too to prevent the possibilty of inhaling any of it. "Don't try this at home, children."

Answer 4

You'd get a salt and water from mixing and acid and base. In this case you'd get sodium acetate as the salt, which has some interesting properties when you get it as a supercooled liquid.

Answer 5

Neutralisation reaction producing sodium acetate and water.

Answer 6

I don't think I would want to mix anything with caustic soda.

Answer 7

it's just an acid/base reaction