Chapter Notes: Acids, Bases & Salts
Introduction
The sour and bitter tastes of food are due to acids and bases are present in
them.
Acids are sour in taste and change the colour of blue litmus to red.
Litmus solution is a purple dye, which is extracted from lichen. When the litmus
solution is neither acidic nor basic, its colour is purple.
Other natural materials like red cabbage leaves, turmeric, colou red petals of
some flowers such as Hydrangea, Petunia and Geranium, which indicate the
presence of acid or base in a solution.
Properties of Acids
The term ‘acid’ has been derived from the Latin word, 'acidus' which means
sour.
Acids have sour taste.
They turn blue litmus solution red.
They give H+ions in aqueous solution.
Strong Acids:HCl, H2SO4, HNO3
Weak Acids:CH3COOH, Oxalic acid, Lactic acid
Concentrated Acids:More amount of acid + Less amount of water
Dilute Acids:More amount of water + Less amount of acid
Properties of Bases
These are the substances which are bitter in taste and soapy in touch.
They turn red litmus solution blue.
They give OH- ions in aqueous solution.
Strong Bases:NaOH, KOH, Ca(OH)2
Weak Bases:NH4OH
Alkalis:These are bases which are soluble in water. Examples: NaOH, KOH, Ca(OH)2.
Types of Indicators and its properties
Indicators: Substances which change their colour/smell in different types of
substances (like acids and bases).
Types of Indicators:
Natural indicators
Synthetic indicators
Olfactory indicators
(i) Natural indicators: Found in nature in plants. Examples: Litmus, red cabbage
leaves extract, flowers of hydrangea plant, turmeric.
(ii) Synthetic indicators:These are chemical substances. Examples: Methyl orange,
phenolphthalein.
(iii) Olfactory indicators:These substances have different odour in acid and bases.
Reaction of Acids and Bases with Metals
Reaction of Acids with Metals
Acids react with metal to form metal salt and releases Hydrogen Gas.
Acid + Metal → Salt + Hydrogen Gas
Example:Zinc granules react with dilute Hydrochloric acid in a test tube.
HCl + Zn → ZnCl2+ H2
Reaction of Bases with Metals
Bases react with metal to evolve hydrogen Gas. Also, note that all metals do
not react with bases. The metal must be more reactive than the metals present
in the base for the reaction to take place.
Base + Metal → Salt + Hydrogen gas
Example:Zinc granules react with NaOH solution to form sodium zincate and
evolve hydrogen gas.
2NaOH + Zn → Na2ZnO2+ H2
Hydrogen gas released can be tested by bringing burning candle near gas
bubbles, it burst with pop sound.
Reaction of Acids with Metal Carbonates and Metal Hydrogencarbonates
Acids reacts with Metal Carbonates and Metal Hydrogencarbonates to form
Salt, Carbon dioxide and water.
Metal carbonate/Metal hydrogen carbonate + Acid → Salt + Carbon dioxide +
Water
Examples:
(i)2HCl + Na2CO3→ 2NaCl + CO2+ H2O
(ii)HCl + NaHCO3→ NaCl + CO2+ H2O
CO2can be tested by passing it through lime water. It turns lime water milky.
Ca(OH)2+ CO2→ CaCO3+ H2O
When excess CO2 is passed, milkiness disappears.
CaCO3+ CO2+ H2O → Ca(HCO)3
Bases do not react with Metal Carbonates and Metal Hydrogencarbonates.
Base + Metal Carbonate/Metal Hydrogen Carbonate → No Reaction
Reaction of Acids and Bases with each other
Acids and Bases react to form salt and water.
Acid + Base → Salt + H2O
Neutralisation Reaction: Reaction of acid with a base is called as neutralization
reaction.
Example:HCl + NaOH → NaCl + H2O
Strong Acid + Weak Base → Acidic salt + H2O
Weak Acid + Strong Base → Basic salt + H2O
Strong Acid + Strong Base → Neutral salt + H2O
Weak Acid + Weak Base → Neutral salt + H2O
Reaction of Metallic Oxides with Acids
Metallic oxides are basic in nature.
Example:CaO, MgO are basic oxides.
Metallic Oxide + Acid → Salt + H2O
CaO + 2HCl → CaCl2+ H2O
Reaction of Non-metallic Oxides with Bases
Non-metallic oxides are acidic in nature.
Non-metallic Oxide + Base → Salt + H2O
CO2+ Ca(OH)2→ CaCO3+ H2O
Reaction of Acid
(i) Acid + Metal Carbonate → Salt + CO2+ Water
(ii) Acid + Metal → Salt + H2
(iii) Acid + Metal Hydrogen Carbonate → Salt + CO2+ H2O
(iv) Acid + Metallic oxide → Salt +H2O
(v) Acid + Base → Salt + H2O
Reaction Of Base
(i) Base + Metal → Salt + H2
(ii) Base + Metal Carbonate → No Reaction
(iii) Base + Metal Hydrogen Carbonate → No Reaction
(iv) Base + Acid → Salt + H2O
(v) Base + Non Metallic oxide → Salt + H2O
Similarities between all Acids and all Bases
All acids have H+ions in common. All acids produce H+ ions
Acids produce H+ions in solution which are responsible for their acidic
properties.
All bases have OH-(hydroxyl ions) in common. All bases produce OH- ions
Acid or Base in Water Solution
Acids produce H+ions in presence of water.
H+ions cannot exist alone, they exist as H3O+(hydronium ions).
H++ H2O → H3O+
HCl + H2O → H3O++ Cl-
Bases when dissolved in water gives OH − ions.
Bases soluble in water are called alkali.
While diluting acids, it is recommended that the acid should be added to water
and not water to acid because the process of dissolving a acid or a base in
water is highly exothermic.
Strength of Acids and Base solutions
Strength of acid or base can be estimated using universal indicator.
Universal indicator:It is a mixture of several indicators. It shows different
colours at different concentrations of H+ ions in the solution.
pH Scale:A scale for measuring H+ ion concentration in a solution. p in pH
stands for ‘potenz’ a German word which means power.
If value of ph is equal to 7 → neutral solution
If value of pH is less than 7 → acidic solution
If value of pH more than 7 → basic solution
