Acids, Bases and Salts
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TOPIC 1
Acids and Bases : Properties and Uses
Quick Notes
Acids: An acid is asubstance that forms hydrogen (H") ions as the only positive ion when dissolved in water. Acids
are are sor in taste. It is derived from latin word 'Acidus' means sour. Acids change blue litmus to red.
Acetic acid is found in Vinegar, Tartaric acid is found in tamarind, Ascorbic acid is found in oranges, ant sting con
tains formic acid, stomach has hydrochloric acid etc.
Strong acids and Weak acids: Those acids which dissociates completely in aqueous solution are strong acids. or
example, HCI, HNO, etc. Those acids which dissociates partially in aqueous solution are known as weak acids. For
example, Acetic acid (CH,COOH), H,CO, etc.
Bases: Bases give OH ions in solution. Bases are substances which are bitter in taste. They change red litmus to
blue. These are soapyy to touch. These are soluble in water and neutralise acids. The bases which are soluble in
water are called alkalis. Examples of bases are Sodium hydroxide, Potassium hydroxide, Aluminium hydroxide etc.
Strong bases and weak bases: Those bases which dissociates or ionises completely in aqueous solution are strong
bases. For example, NaOH, KOH etc. Those bases which dissociates partially or do not dissociates completely n
agueous solution are known as weak bases. For example; NH,OH, Mg(OH), etc.
There are some substances which gives differentcolours in acidic and basic medium, These are known as ac
id-base indicators. Some of thecommonly used indicators are:
Litmus Solution: Litmus solution is neutral in nature. It is purple in colour. An acid turns blue litmus to red
and a base turns red litmus to blue.
" Phernolphthalein Indicator: Phenolphthalein is colourless in acdic
medium. medium and give pink colour in basiC
Methyl Orange: Methyl orange gives red colour in
Some substances gives different odours in acidicand acidicmedium and yellow colourin basic medium.
cators. Someof the examples are: basic medium. Such substarnces are known as
olfactory ind
Vanilla essence: Vanilla essence retains its smell in acidic
medium and loses its smell in basic medium.
Clove oil: It is also used as an olfactory indicator. It gives
different odours in acidic and basic medium.
Onion: Onion gives a characteristic smell in acidic
medium which is lost in basic medium.
General Properties of Acids and Bases:
Acids turns blue litmus to red, and base turns red
litmus to blue.
Reaction with Metals: Acids react with metals and release
hydrogen gas.
H,SO, + Zn ’ ZnSO4 + H
Sulphuric acid Zinc zinc sulphate hydrogen
Metal + Acid ’ Salt + Hydrogen gas
Zn(s) + 2HCI(dil.) ’ ZnClh(aq) + H2(g)
Zinc Hydrochloric acid
hydrogen
Zinc chloride
All bases do not give hydrogen on reaction with metals. However, Zinc reacts with sodium hydroxide to give
sodium zincate and hydrogen gas.
Metal + Base Salt + Hydrogen gas
Zn(s) + 2NaOH(ag) ’ Na,ZnO,(aq) + Ha(g)
Zinc Sodium hydroxide Sodium zincate hydrogen
" Reaction with oxides: Acids react with metal oxides to form salt and water.These are basic in nature.
Metal oxide + Acid Salt + water
CuO + 2HCI CuClh + H,0
Copper oxide hydrochloric acid Copper chloride water
Bases react with non-mnetallic oxides arnd form salt and water. These are acidic in nature.
CO Ca(OH)2 CaCO3 + H,0
Carbon dioxide calcium hydroxide calcium carbonate water
Reaction of Acids With Metal Carbonate And Metal Hydrogen Carbonate: When an acid reacts with metal
carbonate or metal hydrogen carbonate, it gives salt, carbon dioxide and water. This reaction can be shown by
following generic equations:
Acid + Metal carbonate ’ Salt + Carbon dioxide + Water
Acid + Metal hydrogen carbonate ’ Salt + Carbon dioxide + Water
Examples: Na,CO,+ 2HCl’ 2NaCl + CO, + H,O
NaHCO3 + HCl NaCl+CO, + H,
Reaction with Acids and Bases with each other: The reaction of an acid and base to form salt and water is
called Neutralisation reaction.
NaOH + HCI NaCl + Hz0
Sodium hydroxide hydrochloric acid Sodium chloride water
electrolytes. The
Aqueous solution of all acidsand bases are good conductors of electricity. These are used as give OH
conductivity of acids and bases is due to presence of ions. Acids gives H ions in solution and bases
ions in solution. Example:
HCI’ H+CT
NaOH’ Na + OH
aqueous solution.
The properties of an acid are due to H ionsor Hydronium ion (H,0) which it furnish in acid.or a
The process of dissolution of an acid or abase isan exothermic reaction. The addition of water to an
This is known as dilution.
base decreases the concentration of ions per unit volume.
Uses of acids:
(a) Hvdrochloricacid is used in many industries like cdeaning boilers from inside, cleaning sink and sanitary
etc.
(b) Nitric acid is used for making fertilisers, cleansing of ornaments of gold and. silyer:
() Three parts of HCl and three parts of HNO3 are mixed which is known as Aqua regia is a very important
compound. It can dissolve gold also.
(d) Sulphuric acid is used in cells, car battery etc. It is known as King of Chemicals.
Uses of bases:
(a) Sodium hydroxide is used to make soaps, in paper industry and in textle industry.
(b) Calcium hydroxide is used to remove acidity of soil. It is an important constituent of lime and pesticides.
(c) Milk of magnesia (Magneisum hydroxide) is used as an antacid.
TOPIC 2
pH and its Importance
Quick Notes
pH scale: pH scale is given by a Danish Scientist, Sorenson. The pH scale measures how acidic or basic a substance
is. It is defined as the magnitude of negative power to which 10 must be raised to express the hydrogen ion con
centration of the solution in moles per litres. In pH,p stand for 'potenz' in German mean power.
(a) If pH=7, the solution is neutral.
(b) If pH<7, the solution is acidic.
(c) If pH> 7, the solution is basic.
pH of salts:
(i) pH of strong acid and strong base =7-(Neutral).
(ii) pH of strong acid and weak base > 7 (acidic).
(iüi) pH of weak acid and strong base <7 (basic).
14 Liquid drain cleaner
Caustic soda
13 Bleacher, Oven cleaner
12 Soapy water
Increasing 11 Liquid Ammonia
Alkalinity 10 Milk of magnesia
Toothpaste
8 Sodium bicarbonate 8.4
seawater 8.3
Neutral 7 Pure water 7.0
Milk 6.6
6
Urine 6
5 Acid rain 5.6
Increasing 4 Tomato juice
Acidity 3 Grapefruit orange juice
2 Vinegar 2.9
Lemon juice 2.3
1 Hydrochloric Acid from
stómach burnlining
Battery acid
pH and Plants: Plants require aspecific pH of the soil for their proper growth. Plarnts cannot grow in tooalkaline
or too acidic soils. If the soil is too acidic then its pH can be raised by adding lime (or slaked lime) which neutralizes
the excess acid in the soil. Similarly, if the soil is too alkaline then its pH can be lowered by adding gypsum or some
other substance which can neutralize the excess alkali present in the soil.
pH indigestive system: Our stomach produces hydrochloric acid which helps in digestion of food. It has pH
around 1.2. If excess acid is produced, it causes pain and irritation. It can be controlled by taking antacids which
controls the pH in the stomach.
> pH and tooth decay: Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in our body. It gets corroded slowly when pH in the
mouth is below 5.5. Acid is produced in mouth due to degradation of food which is partially hydrolysed by Saiva.
But if excess acid is produced, it causes tooth decay.
The sting by honey bee and ant injects methanol acid in our body which causes pain. This can be reduced by ap
plying baking soda.
TOPIC3
Salts
Quick Notes
Salts: Acids and bases react to form salts and water. This process is known as Neutralisation. The reaction is exO
thermic in nature. Examples of salts are sodium chloride (NaC), Sodium acetate (CH,COONa) etc.
(i) The salts formed by strong acids and strong bases are neutral.
(iü) The salts formed by strong acid and weak base are acidic and
(iüil) the salts formed by strong base and weak acids are basic in nature.
Uses of salts:
(a) Calcium carbonate is used to make floors,in metallurgy for extraction of iron and in making of cement.
(b) Sitver nitrate is used in photography, Ammonium nitrate is used as explosive and in making fertilisers.
(c) Alum(K,SO4.Al,SO4.24H,0) is used to clean water.
Preparation and uses of some useful compounds are:
() NaOH:Its chemical name is Sodium Hydroxide. It is also known as Caustic soda. It is prepared by Chlor Alkali
process: In this process, electricity is passed through an aqueous solution of Sodium chloride (called brine).
Sodium chloride decomposes to form sodium hydroxide. Chlorine gas is formed at the anode, and hydrogen
gas at the cathode. Sodium hydroxide solution is formed near the cathode.
2NaCl(aq) +2H,0 () 2NaOH(aq) +Clhg) + H,lg)
Uses: It is used in metallurgy of bauxite, distillation of petrol, formation of soil and fats etc.
(ü) NaHC0,: Its chemical name is Sodium hydrogen carbonate (NaHCO,). Also known as baking soda.
Preparation:
NaCl + H,0 + CO, + NH3 ’ NHCl + NaHCO3
Uses: It is used in food industry and bakery, as an antacid and mild antiseptic.
(ii) Na,CO3,10H,0: Its chemical name sodium carbonate. It is also known as washing soda.
Preparation:
In the first step, sodium carbonate is obtained by heating baking soda.
2NaHCO3’ Na,CO3 + H,0 + CO2
Then washing soda is produced by recrystallisation of sodium carbonate.
Na,CO3 + 10H,0 ’ Na,CO,10 H,O
Uses: It is used for washing purposes, in paper and textile industry.
(iv) Ca0Cl,: Its chemical name is Calcium oxychloride. It is also known as Bleaching powder.
Preparation: Bleaching powder is produced by the action of chlorine on dry slaked lime.
Ca(OH)2 + Clh, ’ CaOClh + H,0
Uses: It is used as bleaching agent in textile industry.
(v) CaSO4.1/2H,0: It isCalcium sulphate hemihydrate. It is also known as Plaster of Paris.
Plaster of Paris is prepared by heating Gypsum at 373K.
CaSO4.2H,0’ CaSO4,1/2H,0 + 3/2H,0
Uses: It is used to join bones, buildings and in dentistry.
