When sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is added to benzoic acid (C[tex]C_{6}H_{5}COOH[/tex]), sodium benzoate and water ([tex]H_{2}O[/tex]) are formed because benzoic acid is weak acid and NaOH is strong base. The reaction is shown in diagram 1. To the tube of sodium benzoate, if 6 m HCl is added, sodium benzoate salt will react with HCl and produce benzoic acid and sodium chloride, NaCl. The reaction is shown in diagram 2.
