▁and ▁the ▁extremely ▁strong ▁base ▁( the ▁conjug ate ▁base ▁O H − ) ▁comp ete ▁for ▁the ▁pro ton . ▁As ▁a ▁result , ▁bases ▁that ▁react ▁with ▁water ▁have ▁relatively ▁small ▁equilibrium ▁constant ▁values . ▁The ▁base ▁is ▁we aker ▁when ▁it ▁has ▁a ▁lower ▁equilibrium ▁constant ▁value . ▁ ▁Ne ut ral ization ▁of ▁ac ids ▁ ▁B ases ▁react ▁with ▁ac ids ▁to ▁neutral ize ▁each ▁other ▁at ▁a ▁fast ▁rate ▁both ▁in ▁water ▁and ▁in ▁alco hol . ▁When ▁dissol ved ▁in ▁water , ▁the ▁strong ▁base ▁sod ium ▁hydro x ide ▁ion izes ▁into ▁hydro x ide ▁and ▁sod ium ▁ ions : ▁ ▁Na OH ▁→ ▁ ▁+ ▁▁ ▁and ▁similarly , ▁in ▁water ▁the ▁acid ▁hydro gen ▁ch lor ide ▁forms ▁hyd ron ium ▁and ▁ch lor ide ▁ ions : ▁ ▁H Cl ▁+ ▁ ▁→ ▁ ▁+ ▁▁ ▁When ▁the ▁two ▁solutions ▁are ▁mixed , ▁the ▁ ▁and ▁▁ ions ▁combine ▁to ▁form ▁water ▁mole cules : ▁▁ ▁+ ▁ ▁→ ▁ 2 ▁▁ ▁If ▁equal ▁quantities ▁of ▁Na OH ▁and ▁H Cl ▁are ▁dissol ved , ▁the ▁base ▁and ▁the ▁acid ▁neutral ize ▁exactly , ▁leaving ▁only ▁Na Cl , ▁effectively ▁table ▁salt , ▁in ▁solution . ▁ ▁We ak ▁bases , ▁such ▁as ▁b aking ▁s oda ▁or ▁egg ▁white , ▁should ▁be ▁used ▁to ▁neutral ize ▁any ▁acid ▁sp ills . ▁Ne ut ral izing ▁acid ▁sp ills ▁with ▁strong ▁bases , ▁such ▁as ▁sod ium ▁hydro x ide ▁or