A student writes the following equation for the reaction of aqueous HCl with aqueous NaOH.
H+(aq)+Cl−(aq)+OH−(aq)→H2O(l)+Cl−(aq)
Which of the following best describes the error in the student’s equation?
a) Water should be written as H+(aq)+OH−(aq) because water completely dissociates in aqueous solution.
b) Chloride ions should not appear because they are spectator ions and are cancelled in the net-ionic equation.
c) Sodium ions must be included on the products side to balance the sodium from NaOH.
d) An electron must be added to the left to balance charge, indicating the reaction is redox in nature.