Determine the correctness or otherwise of the following Assertion [a] and Reason [r]

Q. Determine the correctness or otherwise of the following Assertion [a] and Reason [r]

[a] : Synthetic thickeners used in pigment printing are neutralized before printing.

[r] : Without neutralization, the viscosity required for printing would not be achieved.

(A) Both [a] and [r] are true and [r] is the correct reason for [a]
(B) Both [a] and [r] are true but [r] is not the correct reason for [a]
(C) Both [a] and [r] are false
(D) [a] is true but [r] is false