To identify the reactants in a chemical reaction, we need to understand which substances start the reaction and are consumed during the process to form the products.
Given the chemical reaction:
[tex]\[
NaOH + HF \rightarrow NaF + H_2O
\][/tex]
1. Reactants vs. Products:
- The substances on the left side of the arrow are the reactants. These are the substances that react with each other.
- The substances on the right side of the arrow are the products. These are the substances formed as a result of the reaction.
2. Identify the reactants:
- From the reaction equation above, the substances on the left side are NaOH (sodium hydroxide) and HF (hydrofluoric acid).
3. Identify the products:
- The substances on the right side of the reaction equation are NaF (sodium fluoride) and H_2O (water).
Now, let's match this information with the options provided:
A. NaOH and HF
B. NaOH and [tex]\( H_2O \)[/tex]
C. NaF and [tex]\( H_2O \)[/tex]
D. NaF and HF
By examining each option, it's clear that:
- Option A lists the correct reactants: NaOH and HF.
- Option B incorrectly lists a reactant and a product.
- Option C incorrectly lists both products.
- Option D incorrectly lists a product and a reactant.
Therefore, the correct answer is:
Option A: NaOH and HF
