ACIDS, BASES
AND SALTS
SALTS
Salt is a combination of an anion of an acid and a cation of a base.
Examples – NaCl, NaNO3 , CaSO4, etc.
Salts are usually prepared by the neutralisation reaction of an acid and a base.
NOTE: *The Salts of hydrochloric acid are called chlorides.
*The Salts of sulphuric acid are called sulphates.
*The Salts of nitric acid are called nitrates.
*The Salts of carbonic acid are called carbonates.
*The Salts of acetic acid are called acetates.
NaCl – Sodium chloride , ZnSO4 – Zinc sulphate , NaNO3 - Sodium Nitrate
CaCO3 – Calcium carbonate, CH3COONa – Sodium acetate
Ques: Write the formulae of the salt given below and identify the acids and bases
From which these salts may be obtained.
SALT FORMULA ACID AND BASE
1. Potassium sulphate
2. Sodium sulphate
3. calcium sulphate
4. magnesium sulphate
5. Copper sulphate
6. Sodium chloride
7. Sodium nitrate
8. Ammonium chloride
PH of Salts
• A salt of a strong acid and a strong base will be neutral in
nature. pH = 7 (approx.).
• Ex- NaCl
A salt of a weak acid and a strong base will be basic in
nature. pH > 7.
• Ex- NH4Cl
A salt of a strong acid and a weak base will be acidic in nature.
pH < 7.
• Ex- Na2CO3
NOTE: The pH of a salt of a weak acid and a weak base is determined by conducting a pH test.
Common Salt
• Sodium Chloride (NaCl) is referred to as common salt because it’s used all
over the world for cooking.
• EX: NaoH (aq) + HCl (aq) NaCl (aq) + H2O (l)
• Sodium hydroxide Hydrochloric acid sodium chloride water
(Common salt)
• Chemicals from Common Salt
• Sodium chloride is a common Salt
From common salt, we may make the following compounds.
• 1. Sodium hydroxide or caustic soda
• 2. Baking soda or sodium hydrogen carbonate, or sodium
bicarbonate
• 3. Washing soda or sodium carbonate decahydrate
Preparation of Sodium Hydroxide
• Sodium hydroxide is produced by electrolysis of concentrated aqueous solution of
sodium chloride (which is called brine)
• When electricity is passed through a concentrated solution of sodium chloride, it
decomposes to form sodium hydroxide, chlorine and hydrogen.
• (Electricity)
• 2NaCl (aq) + 2H2O (l) 2NaOH(aq) +Cl2 (g) + H2 (g)
• (Electrolysis)
• Chemical formula – NaOH
Also known as – caustic soda
• At anode: Cl2 is released
At cathode: H2 is released
• Chlor-alkali process: The process of electrolysis of sodium
chloride solution is called chlor-alkali process.
• Uses of Sodium Hydroxide
• 1. It is used for making soaps and detergents.
• 2. It is used for making artificial textile fibers.
• 3. It is used in manufacture of paper.
• 4. It is used in purifying bauxite ore from which aluminium metal is
extracted.
• Uses of Chlorine
• 1. It is used in the production of bleaching powder.
• 2. It is used in the production of hydrochloric acid.
Baking Soda
• Chemical name – Sodium hydrogen carbonate
Chemical formula – NaHCO 3
• Preparation (Solvay process):
NaCl(aq)+ NH (g)+ CO (g)+ H O(l)→ NaHCO (aq)+ NH Cl(aq)
3 2 2 3 4
• Uses:
• 1. It is used as an antacid in medicine to remove acidity of the stomach.
• 2. It is used in making baking powder ( used in making cakes, bread etc)
• NOTE: Baking powder is the a mixture of baking soda and tartaric acid.
• 3. Baking powder is sometimes added for faster cooking of food such as
gram (chana)
• 4. It is used in fire extinguishers.
Washing Soda
• Chemical name – Sodium carbonate decahydrate
Chemical formula – Na2CO3.10H2O
Preparation (Solvay process) –
Washing soda is produced from sodium chloride in the following three steps.
CO2 is passed through a concentrated solution of sodium chloride and ammonia:
(i) NaCl(aq) + NH3(g) + CO2(g) + H2O(l) → NaHCO3(aq) + NH4Cl(aq)
• Ammonia Sodium hydrogen Ammonium
Carbonate chloride
• (ii) 2NaHCO3 → Na2CO3 + CO2 + H2O
Sodium carbonate (Soda ash)
• (iii) Na2CO3 + 10H2O → Na2CO3.10H2O
Sodium carbonate decahydrate (Washing soda)
Uses
1. It is used in the manufacture of glass, soap and
paper industries
2. It is used for removing permanent hardness of
water
Bleaching Powder
• Chemical formula – CaOCl (Calcium oxychloride)
2
Preparation –
• Bleaching powder is prepared by passing chlorine gas over dry
slaked lime Ca(OH) (aq)+Cl (g)→CaOCl (aq)+H O(l)
2 2 2 2
• On interaction with water – bleaching powder releases chlorine
which is responsible for bleaching action.
Uses of Bleaching Powder
• 1. It is used for bleaching dirty clothes in the laundry, as
a bleaching agent for cotton and linen in the textile
industry.
• 2. It is a strong oxidizing agent, hence used as an
oxidizer in many industries.
• 3. It is used for disinfecting drinking water supply. That
is for making drinking water free from germs.
• 4. It is used for the manufacture of chloroform (CHCl3 )
Plaster of Paris
• Plaster of Paris is expressed as CaSO4. ½ H2O in the chemical formula.
• Gypsum, CaSO4.2H2O (s) on heating at 100°C (373K) gives CaSO4. ½ H2O and
• 3/2 H2O
• Heat to 100oC
CaSO4.2H2O (s) CaSO4. ½ H2O + 3/2 H2O
• Gypsum (373 K) Plaster of paris
• Uses
• 1. It is white powder used in hospitals for setting fractured bones.
• 2. It is used for making designs on the ceilings.
