Acids, Bases and Salts

Grade 07
 MIND MAP

Bases

Acids Acids and Indicators

Bases Types of
indicators

Acids,
Bases and
Salts

Neutralisation

Salts

Examples of
neutralisation in
everyday life
 1. Acids and Bases

1.1 Acids

• Acids are the substances which are sour in

taste.
• Curd, lemon juice, orange juice and vinegar
taste sour as they contain acids.
• Acids present in such substances are called
natural acids.

Vinegar
Spinach

Curd
Orange

Apple
Gooseberry
Grapes Tamarind
Lemon

Acidic substances

The word acid comes from the Latin

word ‘acere’ which means sour.
 1. Acids and Bases

Examples of naturally occurring acids:

Tartaric acid Ascorbic acid

Oxalic acid Citric acid

Acetic acid Lactic acid

Acid Rain
• The rain containing excess of acids is called acid
rain. This is caused as the carbon dioxide, sulphur
dioxide and nitrogen dioxide (which are released
into the air as pollutants) dissolve in rain drops to
form carbonic acid, sulphuric acid and nitric acid
respectively.
• Acid rain can cause damage to buildings,
historical monuments, plants and animals.
 1. Acids and Bases

1.2 Bases

• Bases are the substances which are bitter in

taste and soapy to touch.
• Certain substances like baking soda, soap,
toothpaste, etc. contain bases.

Toothpaste Window
cleaner Antacid

Baking soda
Liquid soap Washing powder

Basic substances

Bases that are soluble in water are

called as alkalis.
 1. Acids and Bases

Examples of bases present in certain substances:

Ammonium Sodium hydroxide/

hydroxide potassium hydroxide

Sodium bicarbonate Magnesium hydroxide

We cannot taste every substance

to find its nature. Hence, special
type of substances called
indicators are used.
 2. Indicators

• The substances used to test whether a

substance is acidic or basic are indicators.
• They change their colours distinctly when
added to a solution containing an acidic or a
basic substance.

Examples of some indicators:

Turmeric Litmus paper

China rose Phenolphthalein

Red cabbage Methyl orange

 2. Indicators

2.1 Types of indicators

Natural indicators Synthetic indicators

These are of natural These are prepared

origin. artificially using
chemicals.
Examples:
• Turmeric Examples:
• China rose • Phenolphthalein
• Red cabbage • Methyl orange
• Litmus
 2. Indicators

2.1.1 Litmus as an indicator

The most commonly used natural indicator is

litmus. It is extracted from lichens. It has a
mauve (purple) colour in distilled water.
• When added to an acidic solution, it turns
red and when added to a basic solution, it
turns blue.
It is available in the form of a solution, or in the
form of strips of paper, known as litmus paper.
Generally, it is available as red and blue litmus
paper.

Acids Bases

Litmus solution Red Blue

Acids Bases

Remains Turns red to

Red litmus paper unchanged blue
 2. Indicators

Acids Bases

Blue litmus paper Remains

Turns blue to
red unchanged

• There is no color change when solid

substances (acidic or basic) are
added directly onto litmus paper.

• Only solutions or pastes of acidic or

basic substances change the
colours of litmus paper.

• The substances whose solutions or

pastes do not change the colour of
both red and blue
litmus are neutral in nature.
These substances are neither
acidic nor basic.
 2. Indicators

2.1.2 Turmeric as an indicator

Turmeric is used as a natural indicator.

Generally, it is yellow in colour.
• In basic solutions, it turns into red and in the
presence of acids , the yellow colour remains
unchanged.

Acids

Yellow remains
unchanged

Turmeric

Yellow → Red
Bases
 2. Indicators

2.1.3 China rose as an indicator

China rose indicator is reddish coloured.

• It turns dark pink (magenta) in acidic
solutions and green in basic solutions.
It is a natural indicator.

Acids

Red → Dark pink/

Magenta

China rose

Red → Green
Bases
 2. Indicators

2.1.4 Phenolphthalein as an indicator

Phenolphthalein is a synthetic indicator. It is

generally colourless in appearance.
• It remains colourless in acidic solutions and
turns pink in basic solutions.

Acids

Remains
colourless

Phenolphthalein

Colourless →
Bases pink
 2. Indicators

2.1.5 Methyl orange as an indicator

Methyl orange is a synthetic indicator. It is

generally orange in colour.
• In the presence of acids, it turns red and in
the presence of bases, it turns yellow.

Acids

Orange → Red

Methyl orange

Orange → yellow
Bases

Great care should be taken while

handling laboratory acids and bases
because these are corrosive in nature,
irritating and harmful to the skin.
 3. Neutralisation

• The reaction between an acid and a base is

known as neutralisation.
• Salt and water are produced in this process
with the evolution of heat.
• The general equation for such reaction is,
Acid + Base → Salt + Water + Heat

Example:
Hydrochloric Sodium Sodium Water
acid hydroxide chloride
+ → +
(Acid) (Base) (Salt)

3.1 Salts

A salt is a solid substance produced by the

reaction of an acid and a base.

Ammonium chloride salt formation:

Ammonium + Hydrochloric Ammonium + Water

hydroxide acid chloride

(Base) (Acid) (Salt)

 3. Neutralisation

3.2 Neutralisation in Everyday Life

Examples of some neutralisation reactions in our

everyday life:

Indigestion treatment Treatment of Ant bite

Treatment of Factory wastes Soil treatment

 3. Neutralisation

3.2.1 Indigestion treatment

• Our stomach contains hydrochloric acid. It

helps us to digest food. But too much of acid
in the stomach causes indigestion.
• To relieve indigestion, we can consume
antacids such as milk of magnesia.

Antacids are edible bases

used to neutralise excess
acid in the stomach.

Common antacid:

Magnesium Hydroxide

Magnesium
+ Hydrochloric → Magnesium + Water
hydroxide acid chloride
(Base) (Acid) (Salt)
 3. Neutralisation

3.2.2 Treatment of ant bite

• When an ant bites, it

injects formic acid into
the skin.
• The effect of the acid can
be neutralised by rubbing
basic substances like
moist baking soda
(sodium bicarbonate) or
calamine solution (zinc
carbonate).

3.2.3 Treatment of Factory wastes

• The wastes of many

factories contain
acids. When they
enter the water
bodies, the acids
may harm the fishes
and other organisms.
• The factory wastes
are, therefore,
neutralised by
adding basic
substances.
 3. Neutralisation

3.2.4 Soil treatment

Plants do not grow well when the soil is either

too acidic or too basic.
• When the soil is too acidic, it is treated with
bases like quick lime (calcium oxide) or
slaked lime (calcium hydroxide).
• If the soil is basic, organic matter (compost)
is added to it. Organic matter releases acids
which neutralise the basic nature of the soil.

Highly acidic soil Highly basic soil

Neutralise Neutralise
with basic with acidic
substances substances

Quicklime Compost
 Important Questions

1 Red litmus paper is dipped in a solution. It remains

red. What is the nature of the solution? Explain.

2 Marks

The colour of red litmus paper turns blue in basic

solutions and remains unchanged in acidic and
neutral solutions. [1 Mark]

Thus, the nature of the solution is either acidic or

neutral. [1 Mark]

2 Turmeric stains on white clothes when washed with

soap, turn red. Why?

2 Marks

Turmeric stains on white clothes turn red when

washed with soap, because turmeric is a
natural indicator and soap is basic in nature.
[1 Mark]
Turmeric is yellow in colour. It remains
unaffected by acids but turns red upon the
addition of bases. Therefore, when turmeric
comes in contact with soap, it turns red.
[1 Mark]
 Important Questions

3 List down any three properties of bases.

3 Marks

• Bases taste bitter.

[1 Mark]

• They are soapy in touch and feel slippery.

[1 Mark]

• They turn red litmus paper blue. They do not

have any effect on the colour of blue
litmus paper. [1 Mark]

4 Why do some fruits taste sour? Which acid is present

in curd?

2 Marks

• The sour taste of many fruits and vegetables

is due to the various types of acids present in
them.
[1 Mark]
• Lactic acid is present in curd.
[1 Mark]
 Important Questions

5 Ram was given a jar filled with distilled water. What

would be his observation when he adds a drop of
phenolphthalein in this jar?
3 Marks
• Phenolphthalein is an indicator that can be
used to identify the nature of a substance as
acidic, basic or neutral.
[1 Mark]
• It remains colourless when added to an
acidic or a neutral substance but turns pink
when added to a basic substance.
[1 Mark]
• Since distilled water is neutral in nature,
phenolphthalein remains colourless when
added to it. [1 Mark]

6 Explain why calamine solution is applied on the skin

when an ant bites.

2 Marks

• When an ant bites, it injects formic acid into

the skin that causes pain and discomfort.
To neutralise the acid, a base is applied.
[1 Mark]
• Calamine solution contains zinc carbonate
which is basic in nature. Therefore, it is used to
neutralise the effect of formic acid.
[1 Mark]
 Important Questions

7 Name the acid in our stomach which helps in

digestion? What is the cause and remedy of acidity?

3 Marks
• Hydrochloric acid is an acid in our stomach
which helps in digestion. [1 Mark]
• Too much of acid in the stomach causes
acidity.
[1 Mark]
• To relieve acidity, we can consume an
antacid such as milk of magnesia, which
contains magnesium hydroxide. It neutralises
the effect of excess acid as it is basic in
nature. [1 Mark]

8 We brush our teeth with toothpaste that is basic in

nature. Explain why?

2 Marks

• The bacteria present in our mouth produce

acids which tend to decay our tooth.
[1 Mark]
• The basic compounds present in
toothpaste neutralise the acids produced by
the bacteria and prevent the decay of our
tooth. [1 Mark]