Answer: The correct answer is nitric acid.
Explanation:
An acid is defined as the substance which looses hydrogen ions when dissolved in water. [tex]H_2SO_4[/tex] is an acid because it looses 2 hydrogen ions when dissolved in water.
[tex]H_2SO_4\rightarrow 2H^++SO_4^{2-}[/tex]
A base is defined as the substance which looses hydroxide ions when dissolved in water or it accepts hydrogen ions easily.
An acid is neutralized only by base.
From the given options:
Option 1: Sodium hydroxide
The chemical formula for this compound is NaOH. This compound will donate hydroxide ion when dissolved in water. Therefore, this is a base.
[tex]NaOH\rightarrow Na^++OH^-[/tex]
Option 2: Nitric acid
The chemical formula for this compound is [tex]HNO_3[/tex]. This compound will donate hydrogen ion when dissolved in water. Therefore, this is an acid.
[tex]HNO_3\rightarrow H^++NO_3^-[/tex]
Option 3: Lithium hydroxide
The chemical formula for this compound is LiOH. This compound will donate hydroxide ion when dissolved in water. Therefore, this is a base.
[tex]LiOH\rightarrow Li^++OH^-[/tex]
Option 4: Ammonia
The chemical formula for this compound is [tex]NH_3[/tex]. This compound will accept hydrogen ion. Therefore, this is a base.
[tex]NH_3+H^+\rightarrow NH_4^+[/tex]
Hence, the correct answer is nitric acid.
