Acids and | Bases Page |2

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Introduction

ACIDS

Any substance which releases hydrogen ion [H+] in water is known as acid. HCl is an example of acid.

Acids are those substances which donate protons

Common Acids

Acids in daily life:

Laboratory acids:
• Ethanoic acid – found in vinegar and tomato juice 3 common laboratory acids
• Citric acid – found in citrus foods like lemons, oranges and • Hydrochloric acid (HCl)
grapefruit • Sulphuric acid (H2SO4)
• Lactic acid – found in sour milk and yoghurt, and in muscle • Nitric acid (HNO3)
respiration
• Tartaric acid – found in grapes
• Tannic acid – found in tea and ant’s body
• Formic acid – found in bee stings
• Hydrochloric acid – found in stomach juices

Dilute acids – solution containing small amount of acid dissolved in water

Concentration acids – solution containing large amount of acid dissolved in water

Properties of Acids

• Acids have a sour taste

• Acids change the colour of indicators (as
given in the table). Indicator Change of Colour
From To
• Corrosive ('burns' your skin)
Litmus paper Blue Red
• Has a pH less than 7
Methyl Orange Orange or Pink
yellow
Phenolphthalein Deep pink Colourless

• Acids react with metals

Metals above hydrogen in the metal reactivity series generally react with dilute acids to form their
respective salt and hydrogen. (Copper , Silver, Gold, Platinum do not react with dilute Acids)

Metal + Acid Salt + Hydrogen

2Na(s) + 2HCl(aq) → 2NaCl(aq) + H2(g)

• Acids react with carbonates and hydrogencarbonates (bicarbonates)

Acids react with metal carbonates and produce salt, water and carbon dioxide.

Carbonates:
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Carbonate/Bicarbonate + Acid Salt + Water + Carbon dioxide
MgCO3(s) + 2HCl(aq) → MgCl2(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O (l)

Bicarbonates:
NaHCO3(s or aq) + HCl(aq) → NaCl2(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O (l)

• Acids react with metal oxides and hydroxides

Metal oxides & hydroxides react slowly with dilute acid to form salt + water

Metal oxide + Acid Salt + Water

ZnO(s) + H2SO4(aq) → ZnSO4(aq) + H2O (l)

Metal hydroxide + Acid Salt + Water

Cu(OH)2(s) + H2SO4(aq) → CuSO4(aq) + 2H2O (l)

Storage of Acids
Acids are stored in clay pots, glass or plastic containers as sand, glass and plastic do not react with
acids. If it’s stored in metal container, metal would react with acids
Uses of Acids

• Sulphuric Acid
 Used in car batteries
 Manufacture of ammonium sulphate for fertilisers
 Manufacture of detergents, paints, dyes, artificial fibres & plastics
• Hydrochloric acid can remove rust (iron(III) oxide) which dissolves in acids
• Acids are used in preservation of foods (e.g. ethanoic acid)

Basicity of an acid is the maximum number of H+ ions produced by a molecule of acid

Acids with their Basicity

Acids Reaction with water Basicity
Hydrochloric acid HCl(aq) → H+(aq) + Cl-(aq) monobasic
Nitric acid HNO3(aq) → H+(aq) + NO3-(aq) monobasic
Ethanoic acid CH3COOH(aq) ⇌ H+(aq) + CH3COO-(aq) monobasic
Sulphuric acid H2SO4(aq) → 2H+(aq) + SO42-(aq) dibasic

Strong and Weak Acids

Strong Acid: - Those acids which are completely ionized in water are known as
strong acids. E.g. H2SO4, HNO3, HCl

H2SO4(aq) → 2H+(aq) + SO42-(aq)

Note their reactions are irreversible
Strong Acids completely split
Weak Acids:- Those acids which partially ionize in water. The remaining in +ve and –ve ions
molecules of acid remain unchanged. E.g. CH3COOH, H2CO3, H3PO4

H3PO4(aq) ⇌ 3H+(aq) + PO42-(aq)

Note their reactions are reversible.

Weak acids react slowly with metals than strong acids – hydrogen gas bubbles is Unionized molecule

produced slowly Weak Acids do not split

completely
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Bases and Alkalis

Bases:- Metal hydroxide and oxides are known as bases. A BASE is a compound which reacts with acid to form salt and water only

Example are , CaO, MgO, Na2O,

KOH, NaOH, Ca(OH)2
Alkalis:- bases which are soluble in water are known as
alkalis

Names of some common Alkalis

sodium hydroxide (NaOH)
potassium hydroxide (KOH)
aqueous ammonia (NH3).

All alkalis produce hydroxide ions (OH-) when dissolved in water. Hydroxide ions give the properties of
alkalis.

Alkalis are therefore substances that produce hydroxide ions, OH – (aq), in water.

PROPERTIES OF ALKALIS:

1. Alkalis have a BITTER taste & have a SOAPY touch

2. Alkalis turn RED litmus paper BLUE
3. Alkalis have a pH value > 7
4. Alkalis are CAUSTIC
5. Alkalis CONDUCT ELECTRICITY due to the presence of MOBILE IONS in solution

6. Alkalis change the colour of indicators

Alkalis turn red litmus to blue

7. Alkalis react with acids

The reaction is called neutralisation
Alkalis + Acid ----------> salt + water
NaOH(aq) + HCl(aq) -------------> NaCl(aq) + H2O(l)

8. Alkalis react with ammonium compounds

They react with heated solid ammonium compounds to produce ammonia gas
(NH4)2SO4(s) + Ca(OH)2(aq) → CaSO4(aq) + 2NH3(g) + 2H2O(l)

Uses of common Alkalis

 Sodium hydroxide is used to make paper, detergents and soap.

 Potassium hydroxide is used in farming to make acidic soil more alkaline so that plants will grow better
in it.
 Magnesium hydroxide is used to help with stomach aches or indigestion. It makes the contents of a
stomach less acidic.
 Alkalis are used in toothpaste as they neutralise acids in teeth

 Soap and detergents contain weak alkalis to dissolve grease

 Floor and oven cleaners contain NaOH (strong alkalis)

 Ammonia (mild alkalis) is used in liquids to remove dirt and grease from glass
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pH Scale
Indicators are substances that are used to differentiate acidic and alkaline solutions on the basis of colour
changes

Common indicators:
Indicator Acid Alkali
Litmus Red Blue
Phenolphthalein Colourless Pink
Methyl orange Red Yellow or orange

The concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) present in a solution can be expressed by pH-scale.
The acidic, basic or neutral nature of a solution can be expressed by its pH

Range of pH Scale
pH scale ranges from 0 to 14.

Value of pH for Neutral , Acidic & Basic Solution

A neutral solution has pH = 7.
Acidic less than 7
Alkali solution has pH more than 7.

OXIDES

Oxides are binary compounds of oxygen with another element, e.g., CO2, SO2, CaO, CO, ZnO, BaO2, H2O, etc.

Types of Oxides
Based on their acid-base characteristics oxides are classified as acidic or basic. An oxide that combines
with water to give an acid is termed as an acidic oxide. The oxide that gives a base in water is known as
a basic oxide.

Acidic oxides
Acidic oxides are the oxides of non-metals. When combined with water, they produce acids, e.g.,
SO2 + H2O ------------> H2SO3
Basic oxides
Basic oxides are the oxides of metals. If soluble in water, then they produce hydroxides (alkalis) in water
e.g.,
CaO + H2O ------------> Ca(OH)2

Amphoteric oxides
Amphoteric oxides are metallic oxides, which show both basic as well as acidic properties. These oxides are
insoluble in water, e.g. ZnO, Al2O3, PbO
Neutral oxides
These are the oxides, which show neither basic nor acidic properties, that is, they do not form salts when
reacted with acids or bases, e.g., carbon monoxide (CO); nitrous oxide (N2O); nitric oxide (NO), water etc., are
neutral oxides.
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