ACIDS, BASES AND SALTS

INDICATORS

Indicators are substances which show a

change in colour or smell when brought in
contact with acids and bases.
They change colour in acid or alkaline solutions.

Two indicators
Natural and artificial/synthetic
indicators
 Eg. Natural indicators
Turmeric powder, Red cabbage juice
Eg. Natural indicators
Turmeric powder, Red cabbage juice,
Litmus solution/paper, Hydrangea,
Petunia and Geranium
 Litmus –Lichen
Natural plant
indicators
Litmus solution / paper

Litmus is an indicator. It changes colour in acid and alkaline

solutions.
Litmus is red in an acid. Litmus is blue in an alkali.
 Hydrangea
Natural indicators
Hydrangea, Petunia and Geranium

Hydrangea

Petunia & Geranium

 Artificial indicators - Phenolphthalein

Phenolphthalein in
Phenolphthalein Phenolphthalein acid – Colourless
(colourless) in base – Pink (No Change in colour)
Artificial indicators – Methyl Orange

Methyl orange in Methyl orange Methyl orange

acid - Red (Orange) in base - Yellow
 Olfactory indicators

Eg. Onion - acidic

[Link] essence –
slightly acidic

Eg. Cloves - acidic

 Olfactory indicators

Onion - acidic Vanilla essence –

slightly acidic

Cloves - acidic
Olfactory indicators
 1) Reaction of metal with acid
Metal + Acid → Salt + Hydrogen gas

Zn + 2HCl → ZnCl2 + H2
Zinc Chloride

Zn + H2SO4 → ZnSO4 + H2
Zinc Sulphate

Zn+ 2CH3COOH → (CH3COO) 2 Zn + H2

Acetic Acid/Ethanoic Acid Zinc Acetate/Zinc ethanoate
Reaction of Zinc with HCl
Reaction of magnesium with HCl
 Hydrogen gas is a colourless and odourless gas.

Test for hydrogen gas – If you put a burning splinter near the
test tube where the gas is evolving, if the fire is extinguished
with a pop up sound, it is the presence of hydrogen gas.
 2) Reaction of metal carbonate / metal
hydrogen carbonate with acids
Metal carbonate / Metal hydrogen carbonate + Acid →
Salt + CO2+ H2O

Na2CO3+ 2HCl →2NaCl + CO2 + H2O

Sodium Carbonate

NaHCO3+ HCl → NaCl + CO2 + H2O

Sodium hydrogen carbonate/ Sodium bi
carbonate/Baking soda
Properties of CO2 gas - Carbon dioxide gas is a colourless and odourless
gas which rushes with brisk effervescence.
Test for CO2 gas : Passing CO2 through lime water - Ca(OH) 2, it turns
milky due to the formation of insoluble calcium carbonate

If we pass excess CO2 through the above solution, the milkiness

disappears due to the formation of soluble calcium hydrogen
carbonate.
 TEST FOR CARBON DIOXIDE GAS
Passing CO2 through lime water - Ca(OH) 2, it turns milky
due to the formation of insoluble calcium carbonate

Ca(OH) 2+ CO2 → CaCO3 + H2O

Lime water(colourless) Calcium Carbonate

If we pass excess CO2 gas

If we pass excess CO2 through the above solution, the
milkiness disappears due to the formation of soluble
calcium hydrogen carbonate.

CaCO3 + H2O + CO2 → Ca(HCO3) 2

Calcium Hydrogen carbonate
 3) Reaction of an acid with a base
[NEUTRALISATION REACTION]

Acid + Base → Salt + Water

HCl (dil) + NaOH (aq) →NaCl (aq) + H2O (l)

4) Reaction of Metal Oxide with acids

Metal oxide + Acid → Salt + Water

Na2O + 2HCl → 2NaCl + H2O

ZnO + 2HCl → ZnCl2 + H2O

CuO + 2HCl → CuCl2 + H2O

(Black) (Blue green colour)

Metal oxides are basic in nature and turns wet red litmus to blue.
 Reaction of Non-Metallic Oxide with bases

Non-metal oxide + Base → Salt + Water

Examples of non-metallic oxides are Carbon dioxide CO2, Sulphur
dioxide SO2, Nitrogen dioxide NO2

2NaOH + CO2 → Na2CO3 + H2O

Ca(OH) 2 + CO2 → CaCO3 + H2O

Non-metallic oxides are acidic in nature and turns wet blue litmus to
red.
 Why do acids conduct electricity?
Acids conducts electricity because they produce
hydrogen ion(H+) which helps in conducting
electricity and the bulb will glow.

HCl → H+ + Cl -
NaOH → Na+ + OH-
Alcohol and glucose solution does not conduct
electricity because they do not form ions when
electricity is passed through the solution
NaOH
Reaction of solid NaCl with Conc. Sulphuric Acid
 Reaction of solid NaCl with Conc. Sulphuric Acid

2NaCl (s) + H2SO4 (l) → 2HCl (g) + Na2SO4 (s)

Sodium Sulphate

HCl gas cannot turn dry blue litmus paper into red
because HCl gas cannot ionize and form h+ ions.
But HCl gas can turn wet blue litmus paper into red
because hydrogen ions are produced in the
presence of water.
 Hydronium ion (H3O +)

HCl → H+ + Cl -
Hydrogen ion cannot exist alone, but they exist after
combining with water molecules as hydronium ion
[H3O+]. This hydronium ion helps the acid to show
the properties of the acid.
 Hydroxide ion [ OH ]
-

Bases exhibit basic properties

because they produce hydroxide ions

NaOH(s) → +
Na 1 + -
OH 1

KOH(s) → K++ OH-

Neutralisation reaction

Acid + Base → Salt + Water

HCl + NaOH → NaCl + H2O

H X +M → MX +HOH

H+ + -
OH → H2 O
 Dilution
• Mixing an acid or
base with water
results in
decrease in
concentration of
ions(H3O+ or OH- )
per unit volume.
Such a process is
called dilution and
the acid or base is
said to be diluted.
 Dilution of an acid
The process of dissolving an acid or a base in water
is a highly exothermic process.

We should not add water to concentrated acid

because heat generated from the acids may
cause the mixture to splash out and cause
burns.
The acid must always be added to water slowly
with continuous stirring.
 Making of an acid
When the oxide (CO2,
SO2, SO3 , NO2 )
of some non-metals
dissolve in water
they make an acid.

Strong Acid – HCl, H2SO4, HNO3

Weak Acid – Phosphoric acid (H3PO4) ,

H2CO3(Carbonic acid), acetic acid
(CH3COOH), citric acid, oxalic acid .
Making of an acid
When the oxide (Na2O, K2O,
CaO, MgO of some metals
dissolve in water
they make a base.

Strong base – KOH, NaOH

Weak base – Ca(OH) 2 ,
Mg(OH) , NH4OH
2

Bases that dissolve in water are called alkali's.

Eg. KOH, NaOH, Ca(OH) 2 , Mg(OH)2 , NH4OH
 Universal Indicator
• Universal indicator shows different colours at different
concentrations of hydrogen ions in a solution[in acids,
alkalis]. pH scale was discovered by Sorensen.
• pH scale is used for measuring hydrogen ion
concentration in a solution. The pH stands for
‘potenz’ of hydrogen in German meaning power.
• Higher the hydronium ion concentration, lower the pH
value. The pH of a neutral solution is 7. Value less than 7
on the pH scale represent an acidic solution. As the pH
value increases from 7 to 14, it represents an increase in
OH- ion concentration in the solution, that is increase the
strength of alkali.
 The pH scale

1–6 7 8 - 14
Neutral
Acids Alkalis
Decrease in H+ ion
Increase in H+ ion
concentration and increase
concentration
in OH- ion concentration.
pH Scale
Universal indicator paper / solution

The universal indicator

paper / solution shows
different colours at
different
concentrations of
hydrogen ions in a
solution
 pH Meter
 Electrical method of measuring the pH of a solution

 Consists of a pH electrode/probe connected to a meter

 More reliable and accurate

 Importance of pH in our daily life
1. Human body pH range is 7.0 to 7.8.
2. Rain water p H range less than 5.6, it is called
acid rain. When acid rain flows into the rivers, it
lowers the pH of the river water. The survival of
aquatic life in such rivers become difficult.
 Importance of pH in our daily life
3) pH of the soil
 Importance of pH in our daily life
3) pH of the soil

Most of the plants grow best when the pH of the soil is

close to 7. If the soil is too acidic or too basic, the
plants grow badly or do not grow at all.
If the soil is too acidic, then it is treated with
substances like quicklime, slaked lime or chalk. These
substances are basic in nature and hence react with
the excess acid present in soil and reduce its acidity.
If the soil is too basic, then its basicity is reduced by
adding decaying organic matter (manure or compost)
which contains acidic materials.
 Importance of pH in our daily life
3) pH of the soil
How to remove excess acidity of the
soil?
Ans) We can remove acidity of the
soil by adding Calcium oxide(CaO),
Calcium hydroxide(Ca(OH)2 and
Calcium Carbonate(CaCO3) [Lime].
 Importance of pH in our daily life
4) pH in our digestive system

During indigestion the stomach produces too much

acid and this causes pain and irritation. To get rid
of this pain, people use bases called antacids.
This atacids neutralize the excess acid. Magnesium
hydroxide(Milk of magnesia) a mild base is often
used for this purpose.
Antacid - Milk of Magnesia - Mg(OH) 2
 Importance of pH in our daily life
5) pH as a cause of tooth decay

Tooth decay starts when the pH of the mouth is

lower than 5.5. Tooth enamel, made up of calcium
phosphate is the hardest substance in the body. It
gets corroded when the pH in the mouth is below
5.5. Bacteria present in the mouth produce acids
by degradation of sugar and food particles
remaining in the mouth after eating.

Two ways to prevent it

1) Clean the mouth after eating food.
2) Brushing the teeth with basic toothpaste which can
neutralise the excess acid and prevent tooth decay.
 Importance of pH in our daily life
6) Self defence by animals and plants through chemical warfare

Bee sting leaves an acid which cause pain and

irritation. Using of a mild base like baking soda
on the stung area gives relief.

Wasp stings are

alkaline and can be
neutralised with
vinegar.
 Importance of pH in our daily life
6) Self defence by animals and plants through chemical warfare
Stinging hair of nettle leaves inject Methanoic acid
causing burning pain. It can be neutralized by dock
leaves which is alkaline in nature.
 Neutralisation reaction
• Acids and alkalis react with each other. The alkali
cancels out the acid in the reaction. This is called
neutralisation.

A salt is made.

The salts of sulphuric acid are known as sulphates.

The salts of hydrochloric acid are known as chlorides.
The salts of nitric acid are known as nitrates.
 Salts
• Strong Acid + Strong base → Neutral salt + water
• HCl + NaOH → NaCl + H2O
• Strong Acid + Weak base → Acidic salt + water
• HCl + NH4OH → NH4Cl + H2O
• Ammonium hydroxide Ammonium chloride

• Weak Acid + Strong base → Basic salt + water

• CH3COOH + NaOH → CH3COONa + H2O
Ethanoic Acid Sodium Ethanoate

• Weak Acid + Weak base → Neutral salt + water

• H2CO3 + NH4OH → (NH4)2CO3 + H2O
Carbonic Acid Ammonium
Ammonium Carbonate
hydroxide
pH = 7 → neutral solution

pH < 7 → acidic solution.

pH >7 → basic solution

pH = 0 → Highly acidic

pH = 14 → Highly basic
 pH of Salts
Acidic salt – pH less than 7
Eg. NH4Cl, CuSO4, Ferrous sulphate /Iron II sulphate (FeSO4)
Basic salt – pH more than 7
Eg. Na2CO3, NaHCO3, CH3COONa
Neutral salt – pH is 7
Eg. NaCl, K2SO4, CaCl2 , KNO3 , KCl
 Chemicals made from Common salt - NaCl

Sodium hydroxide,
Bleaching powder
Baking soda,
Washing soda,
bleaching powder
 Chlor - Alkali Process
• Sodium hydroxide
• When electricity is passed through an aqueous solution
of sodium chloride (called brine), it decomposes to
form sodium hydroxide.
The process is called the chlor-alkali process because of
the products formed– chlor for chlorine and alkali for
sodium hydroxide.

Sodium chloride dissolved in water is called brine.

Electrolysis of brine gives hydrogen at the cathode and
chlorine at the anode.
Sodium hydroxide is formed near the cathode.
This is an important industrial process.
 Bleaching powder CaOCl2
• Chemical name Calcium oxy chloride
• Bleaching powder is produced by the
action of chlorine on dry slaked
lime [Ca(OH)2].
Ca(OH)2 + Cl2 → CaOCl2 + H2O
 Uses of bleaching powder

1) for bleaching cotton and linen in the textile

industry
2) for bleaching wood pulp in paper factories.
3) for bleaching washed clothes in laundry.
4) as an oxidising agent in many chemical
industries.
5) for disinfecting drinking water to make it
free make it free of germs
 Uses of bleaching powder
1) For bleaching cotton and linen in the textile industry
 Uses of bleaching powder
2) for bleaching wood pulp in paper factories
 Uses of bleaching powder
23) for bleaching washed clothes in laundry.
 Uses of bleaching powder
2) for disinfecting drinking water to make it
free make it free of germs
 Baking Soda (NaHCO3)

Chemical Name: Sodium hydrogen

carbonate/bicarbonate
It is produced using sodium chloride
as one of the raw materials. It is a
mild non-corrosive basic salt.
 How Baking soda is made

Passing carbon dioxide through

ammoniacal brine(NaCl+water), we
get baking soda.
NaCl + H2O + CO2 + NH3 → NH4Cl + NaHCO3
 What happens when we heat baking soda during
cooking

When we heat baking soda, we get sodium carbonate, water

and carbon dioxide. The CO2 formed here makes
the food item rise up and make it soft and spongy.

2NaHCO3 → Na2CO3 + H2O + CO2

 Uses of sodium hydrogencarbonate [NaHCO3 ]

1) For making baking powder, which is a of

baking soda [NaHCO3 ] and a mild edible acid
such as tartaric acid.
When baking powder is heated or mixed in
water, the following reactions take place –

NaHCO3+ H+ → Sodium salt of acid + H2O + CO2

 Uses of sodium hydrogencarbonate [NaHCO3 ]
2) To make the bread or cake rise up and make them soft
and spongy. The CO2 formed here makes the food item rise
up and make it soft and spongy.
 Uses of sodium hydrogencarbonate [NaHCO3 ]
3) Sodium hydrogen carbonate is also an ingredient in
antacids. Being alkaline, it neutralizes excess acid in the
stomach and provides relief.
 Uses of sodium hydrogencarbonate [NaHCO3 ]
4) It is also used in soda-acid fire extinguishers. CO2 gas
produced extinguishes the fire because it is a non-
combustible gas.
2NaHCO3+H2SO4→ Na2SO4 +2CO2 + 2H2O
 Washing Soda [Na2CO3.10H2O]

Chemical name : Sodium carbonate deccahydrate

Sodium carbonate can be obtained by heating

baking soda and re-crystallisation of sodium
carbonate gives washing soda
1) 2NaHCO3 → Na2CO3 + H2O + CO2
2) Na2CO3 + 10 H2O → Na2CO3 .10H2O
Uses of washing soda
Borax -Sodium borate
Na2B4O7·10H2O
There are two types of water hardness,
temporary hardness that can be removed by
boiling the water, and permanent hardness
can be removed by adding washing soda.
Temporary hardness is caused by the presence
of calcium hydrogen carbonate (Ca(HCO3)2)
and magnesium hydrogen carbonate
(Mg(HCO3)2).
Permanent hardness is caused by the presence
of calcium and magnesium sulphates (CaSO4
and MgSO4) and dissolved calcium and
magnesium chlorides (CaCl2 and MgCl2 ).
 Plaster of Paris – Calcium sulphate hemi
hydrate [CaSO4 . ½ H2O ]
• On heating gypsum at 373K, it loses water
molecules and becomes calcium sulphate
hemihydrate (CaSO4. ½ H2O). This is called Plaster
of Paris.
373K

• CaSO4 .2H2O → CaSO4 . ½ H2O + 1 ½ H2O

• If we mix plaster of paris with water, it changes

to gypsum once again giving a hard solid mass.

• CaSO4 . ½ H2O + 1 ½ H2O→ CaSO4 . 2H2O

 Plaster of paris

Gypsum Plaster of Paris

CaSO4 .2H2O CaSO4 . ½ H2O
GYPSUM CaSO4 .2H2O
GYPSUM CaSO4 .2H2O
 Uses of Plaster of Paris [CaSO4 . ½ H2O ]

1) It is used for making surface smooth and

materials for decoration.
2) It is used for making toys and statues.
3) It is used for plastering fractured bones
because it supports fractured bones in the
right position.
PLASTER OF PARIS
PLASTER OF PARIS
 Uses of Plaster of Paris [CaSO4 . ½ H2O ]
1) Why plaster of Paris have the formula
CaSO4 . ½ H2O ?

Ans) The formula is written in this form

because two formula units of CaSO4 share
one molecule of water.
CaSO4 CaSO4 .½ H2O
+ 1H2O
CaSO 4 CaSO4 .½ H2O
 WATER OF CRYSTALLISATION
Water of crystallization is the fixed number
of water molecules in one formula unit of a
salt.
Example : Hydrated Iron(II) sulfate [FeSO4·7 H2O]

FeSO4·7 H2O + Heat → FeSO4 + 7H2O

Heat

Hydrated Ferrous Sulphate An hydrated Ferrous Sulphate

FeSO4·7 H2O FeSO4
 WATER OF CRYSTALLISATION
Hydrous Sodium carbonate Na2CO3.10 H2O

Anhydrous sodium carbonate Na2CO3

Heat
 WATER OF CRYSTALLISATION

Hydrous Copper Sulphate - CuSO4·5H2O

Anhydrous Copper sulphate - CuSO4

Heat

Anhydrous Copper Sulphate

Hydrous Copper Sulphate
CuSO4
CuSO4·5 H2O
 WATER OF CRYSTALLISATION
CuSO4· 5H2O → CuSO4 + 5H2O

CuSO4 + 5H2O → CuSO4· 5H2O

Heating hydrated copper sulphate and adding water to
anhydrous copper sulphate is a physical change.
 WATER OF CRYSTALLISATION

Heat

Gypsum Plaster of Paris

CaSO4 .2H2O CaSO4 . ½ H2O