CAIE IGCSE Chemistry

7.1 The characteristic properties of

acids and bases

Notes

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Describe the characteristic properties of acids in terms of their reactions
with: (a) metals (b) bases (c) carbonates

● An acid is a chemical that has a pH value less than 7

● A salt is a compound formed when the metals ions replace the hydrogen ions
,H+ ,in an acid, e.g. sodium chloride (NaCl)
● Examples of dilute acids: hydrochloric acid HCl (aq), sulfuric acid H2SO4 (aq)
and nitric acid HNO3 (aq)

Acids and metals

● Only metals that are above hydrogen in the reactivity series will react with
dilute acids
● When a dilute acid reacts with a metal, a salt and hydrogen are formed:
E.g. Sodium + Hydrochloric acid -> Sodium chloride + hydrogen
2Na (s) + 2HCl (aq) -> 2NaCl (aq) + H2 (g)
Acids and bases
● Metal oxides and metal hydroxides act as bases
● When an acid and base react, a neutralisation reaction occurs, forming water
● When an acid reacts with a metal oxide, a salt and water is formed
E.g. Magnesium oxide + Sulfuric acid -> Magnesium sulfate + Water
MgO (s) + H2SO4 (aq) -> MgSO4 (aq) + H2O (l)

● When an acid reacts with a metal hydroxide, a salt and water is also formed
E.g. Sodium hydroxide + Hydrochloric acid -> Sodium chloride + Water
NaOH (aq) + HCl (aq) -> NaCl (aq) + H2O (l)
Acids and carbonates
● When an acid reacts with a metal carbonate, a salt, water and carbon dioxide
are formed
E.g. Magnesium carbonate + Hydrochloric acid -> Magnesium chloride +
Water + Carbon dioxide
MgCO3 (s) + 2HCl (aq) -> MgCl2 (aq) + H2O (l) + CO2 (g)

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Describe acids in terms of their effect on: (a) litmus (b) thymolphthalein (c)
methyl orange

To test for acids, an indicator can be used. These change colour in different solutions
according to their acidity/alkalinity. Litmus, thymolphthalein and methyl orange are all
examples of indicators.

Litmus
● Litmus is available in aqueous solution form or more commonly as paper
strips, in blue and red litmus paper
● When an acid is added, the blue litmus paper -> red
● When an acid is added, the red litmus paper stays red
Thymolphthalein
● When an acid is added, thymolphthalein will stay colourless

Methyl orange
● When an acid is added, methyl orange turns red

State that …

● Bases are oxides and hydroxides of metals

● Alkalis are bases that are soluble (dissolve in aqueous solution)
● Examples of alkalis: Sodium hydroxide NaOH (aq), Potassium hydroxide KOH
(aq) and Ammonia NH3 (aq)

Describe the characteristic properties of bases in terms of their reactions

with: (a) acids (b) ammonium salts

Acids and bases

● See above

Ammonium salts
● When an ammonium salt is warmed with a base, it undergoes thermal
decomposition forming a salt, water and ammonia gas
E.g. Ammonium chloride + sodium hydroxide -> sodium chloride + water +
ammonia gas
NH4Cl (s) + NaOH (aq) ->NaCl (aq)+ H2O (l) + NH3 (g)

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Describe alkalis in terms of their effect on: (a) litmus (b) thymolphthalein
(c) methyl orange

Litmus
● When an alkali is added, the blue litmus paper stays blue
● When an alkali is added, the red litmus paper -> blue
Thymolphthalein
● When an alkali is added, thymolphthalein will change from colourless to blue

Methyl orange
● When an alkali is added, methyl orange turns yellow

State that …

● Aqueous solutions of acids contain H+ ions

● Aqueous solutions of alkalis contain OH– ions

Describe how to compare hydrogen ion concentration, neutrality, relative

acidity and relative alkalinity in terms of colour and pH using universal
indicator paper

● A pH scale is used to measure how acidic or alkaline a solution is, with values
between 0 - 14. 0 being the most acidic and 14 being the most alkaline.
● An acid has a pH value less than 7 and a high concentration of hydrogen ions
(H+ ions)
● An alkali has a pH value above 7 and a low concentration of hydrogen ions (H+
ions) but high concentration of hydroxide ions (OH– ions)
● Neutral solutions, such as pure water, has a pH value of 7
● The higher the pH value, the more alkaline a solution is
● The lower the pH value, the more acidic a solution is

● Universal indicator paper can be used to test the relative acidity/alkalinity of a

solution by adding a spot of the unknown solution to the paper and waiting for
a colour change
● Universal indicator paper will show colour changes according to the pH scale
○ Colours like yellow, orange and red indicate acidity
○ Colours like blue and violet indicate alkalinity
○ Neutral solutions will show as green

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Describe the neutralisation reaction between an acid and an alkali to
produce water

● When an acid and base react, a neutralisation reaction occurs, forming water
● The symbol equation for this can be shown:
H+ (aq) + OH– (aq) → H2O(l)

(Extended only) Define acids and bases as …

● Acids are known as proton donors (releases hydrogen ions)

● Bases are known as proton acceptors (accepts hydrogen ions)
● A proton is the same as a hydrogen ion (H+)

(Extended only) Define a strong acid and a weak acid …

● A strong acid is an acid that completely dissociates in aqueous solution

● A weak acid is an acid that only partially dissociates in aqueous solution
○ A weak acids will usually be indicated in a symbol equation of its
dissociation by the reversible sign ⇌

(Extended only) State that hydrochloric acid is a strong acid, as shown by

the symbol equation, HCl(aq) → H+ (aq) + Cl – (aq)

● An example of a strong acid is hydrochloric acid

● This is shown in the symbol equation for its dissociation:
HCl (aq) -> H+ (aq) + Cl – (aq)

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(Extended only) State that ethanoic acid is a weak acid, as shown by the
symbol equation, CH3COOH(aq) ⇌ H+ (aq) + CH3COO– (aq)

● An example of a weak acid is ethanoic acid

● This is shown in the symbol equation for its dissociation:
CH3COOH (aq) ⇌ H+ (aq) + CH3COO– (aq)

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