Acids, Bases, and Salts

 I. Understanding Chemical Properties of Acids and Bases

o Acids
 Definition & Characteristics
 Sour taste
 Change blue litmus to red
 Produce hydrogen ions (H+) or hydronium ions (H3O+) in
aqueous solutions, responsible for acidic properties.
 Conduct electricity in aqueous solutions due to ions.
 Do not show acidic behaviour in the absence of water (e.g., dry
HCl gas does not change dry litmus paper).
 Reactions
 With Metals: Acid + Metal → Salt + Hydrogen gas.
 Example: Zinc granules with dilute sulphuric acid produce
hydrogen gas.
 Hydrogen gas is tested by a burning candle, which
extinguishes with a "pop" sound.
 With Metal Carbonates/Hydrogencarbonates: Metal
Carbonate/Hydrogencarbonate + Acid → Salt + Carbon dioxide +
Water.
 Example: Sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) or sodium
hydrogencarbonate (NaHCO3) with dilute HCl.
 Carbon dioxide gas is tested by passing it through lime
water (calcium hydroxide solution), which turns milky.
 With Bases (Neutralisation Reaction): Acid + Base → Salt +
Water.
 Viewed as H+(aq) + OH-(aq) → H2O(l).
 With Metallic Oxides: Metal oxide + Acid → Salt + Water.
 Metallic oxides are considered basic oxides due to this
reaction.
 Indicators
 Natural: Litmus (purple dye from lichen), turmeric (reddish-
brown with base), red cabbage leaves, coloured petals of flowers
(e.g., Hydrangea, Petunia, Geranium).
 Synthetic: Methyl orange, Phenolphthalein.
 Olfactory Indicators: Substances whose odour changes in acidic
or basic media (e.g., onion, vanilla essence, clove oil).
 Strength:
 Strong Acids: Produce more H+ ions (e.g., HCl, H2SO4).
 Weak Acids: Produce less H+ ions (e.g., CH3COOH).
o Bases
 Definition & Characteristics
 Bitter taste.
 Change red litmus to blue.
 Generate hydroxide (OH-) ions in water.
  Alkalis: Bases that are soluble in water; they are soapy to touch,
bitter, and corrosive.
 Conduct electricity in aqueous solutions.
 Reactions
 With Metals: Base + Metal → Salt + Hydrogen gas.
 Example: Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution with zinc
granules produces hydrogen gas and sodium zincate
(Na2ZnO2).
 Note: Not all metals react with bases to produce hydrogen
gas.
 With Acids (Neutralisation Reaction): Base + Acid → Salt +
Water.
 With Non-metallic Oxides: Base + Non-metallic oxide → Salt +
Water.
 Non-metallic oxides are considered acidic in nature (e.g.,
CO2 reacting with Ca(OH)2).
 Strength:
 Strong Bases: Produce more OH- ions.
 Weak Bases: Produce less OH- ions.
o Dilution
 The process of dissolving an acid or a base in water is highly exothermic.
 Always add acid slowly to water with constant stirring, not water to acid,
to prevent splashing and burns due to excessive heat.
 Results in a decrease in the concentration of H3O+ or OH- ions per unit
volume.
 II. pH Scale: Measuring Strength of Acid or Base Solutions
o Definition: A scale for measuring hydrogen ion concentration in a solution.
o Range: 0 (very acidic) to 14 (very alkaline/basic).
o Indicator: Universal indicator (a mixture of several indicators) shows different
colours at different H+ ion concentrations.
o Values:
 pH 7: Neutral solution.
 pH < 7: Acidic solution (higher hydronium ion concentration, lower pH
value).
 pH > 7: Basic/Alkaline solution (higher OH- ion concentration, higher pH
value).
o Relationship: Higher H+ concentration, lower pH value.
 III. Salts
o Formation: Formed during neutralisation reactions (Acid + Base → Salt +
Water).
o Families: Salts with the same positive or negative radicals (e.g., sodium salts,
chloride salts).
o pH of Salts:
 Neutral: Salts of a strong acid and strong base (pH 7).
 Acidic: Salts of a strong acid and weak base (pH < 7).
 Basic: Salts of a strong base and weak acid (pH > 7).
 o Common Salt (Sodium Chloride, NaCl)
 A neutral salt, found in seawater and as rock salt.
 Raw Material for Chemicals: Used to produce sodium hydroxide,
bleaching powder, baking soda, and washing soda.
 Chlor-alkali process: Electrolysis of aqueous sodium chloride (brine)
produces sodium hydroxide (NaOH), chlorine gas (Cl2), and hydrogen gas
(H2).
 Uses of products: NaOH (metals, paper, soaps), Cl2 (bleaching
powder, water treatment), H2 (fuels, margarine).
 Bleaching Powder [Ca(ClO)2]: Produced by the action of chlorine on
dry slaked lime.
 Uses: Bleaching cotton/linen/wood pulp, oxidising agent, making
drinking water germ-free.
 Baking Soda (Sodium Hydrogencarbonate, NaHCO3): Mild non-
corrosive basic salt.
 Uses:
 Making baking powder (mixture of baking soda and a
mild edible acid like tartaric acid, releases CO2 to make
bread/cake soft and spongy).
 Ingredient in antacids (neutralizes excess stomach acid).
 In soda-acid fire extinguishers.
 Washing Soda (Sodium Carbonate Decahydrate, Na2CO3.10H2O):
Basic salt.
 Uses:
 Glass, soap, and paper industries.
 Manufacture of sodium compounds (e.g., borax).
 Cleaning agent for domestic purposes.
 Removing permanent hardness of water.
o Water of Crystallisation
 Fixed number of water molecules present in one formula unit of a salt.
 Example: Hydrated copper sulphate (CuSO4.5H2O) is blue, turns white
upon heating as water is removed. Blue colour reappears upon moistening.
 Gypsum (CaSO4.2H2O): Contains two water molecules of
crystallisation.
 Plaster of Paris (Calcium Sulphate Hemihydrate, CaSO4.½H2O):
Formed by heating gypsum at 373 K.
 Uses: Supporting fractured bones, making toys, decorative
materials, smoothing surfaces.
 Reverts to gypsum (hard solid mass) when mixed with water.
 Must be stored in a moisture-proof container.
 IV. Importance of pH in Everyday Life (Just Like Life...)
o Living Organisms: Survive within a narrow pH range (7.0 to 7.8).
o Acid Rain: Rainwater with pH less than 5.6; lowers river water pH, making
aquatic life survival difficult.
o Soil pH: Plants require a specific pH range for healthy growth; farmers may treat
soil with quick lime, slaked lime, or chalk to adjust pH.
o Digestive System: Stomach produces hydrochloric acid (HCl) for digestion.
 Indigestion: Excess acid causes pain; antacids (bases like magnesium
hydroxide/Milk of Magnesia) are used to neutralize it.
o Tooth Decay: Starts when mouth pH is below 5.5, caused by acids produced by
bacteria degrading sugar.
 Prevention: Brushing teeth with basic toothpastes neutralizes excess acid.
o Self-defence by Animals and Plants: Chemical warfare.
 Bee Sting: Injects acidic substance (methanoic acid), causing pain;
relieved by a mild base like baking soda.
 Nettle Sting: Injects methanoic acid, causing burning pain; relieved by
rubbing with a dock plant leaf (which is basic).