Chemistry Handout 10 REF #: 010

ACIDS, BASES AND SALTS

Acids

Definition:

1. An acid is a substance which contains hydrogen, which can be replaced directly or indirectly by a metal to form
a salt.

e.g

The zinc replaces the Hydrogen to form the salt, zinc chloride.

2. An acid is a substance which forms hydroxonium ions when dissolved in water.

e.g HCl (g)  H+ (aq) + Cl- (aq) (This is not a reaction but a dissolution- the water only enters into making the
ions aqueous)

H+(aq) + H2O (l)  H3O+ (aq)

When an acid dissolves in water, it initially forms hydrogen ions. Each hydrogen ion then becomes associated with
a water molecule to form a hydroxonium ion. .

Overall Reaction: HCl (g) + H2O (l)  H3O+ (aq) + Cl- (aq)

3. An acid is a proton donor.

When a hydrogen atom loses an electron to form an H + ion, it becomes a hydrogen nucleus which contains a
single proton. Hydrogen ions are therefore, protons and acids can donate there to other substances. For example,
when an acid is dissolved in water, it donates its hydrogen ions (protons) to the water molecules.

e.g HCl (g) + H2O (l)  H3O+ (aq) + Cl- (aq)

Note: H3O+ (aq) is usually written as H+ (aq)

Properties of Aqueous Acids

The properties of acids in their pure form (anhydrous form) are quite different from those of their aqueous
solution. It is the H+ (aq) ions that cause the acidic properties, which are only formed when dissolved in water.

1. Acids have a sour taste.

2. Acids are corrosive.

3. Acids turn damp litmus paper from blue to red.

4. Acids are electrolytes- the conduct electricity.

5. Acids neutralize base to form a salt and water only:

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Chemistry Handout 10 REF #: 010
6. Acids reacts with carbonates or hydrogen carbonates to form salt, water and carbon dioxide.

7. Non oxidizing acids react with reactive metals to form salt and hydrogen.

The Basicity (Proticity) of Acids

The basicity of an acid is the number of moles of H + ions produced per mole of acid.

Monobasic / monoprotic acids- produce one mole of H + ions in solution per mole of acid ionized. It is an acid
containing one replaceable hydrogen atom per molecule of acid.

e.g

Dibasic / diprotic acids- produce two moles of H + ions in solution per mole of acid ionized. It is an acid containing
two replaceable hydrogen atoms per molecule of acid.

e.g

Tribasic / triprotic acids- produce three moles of H + ions in solution per mole of acid ionized. It is an acid
containing three replaceable hydrogen atoms per molecule of acid.

e.g

Acid Anhydrides

An acid anhydride is an acidic oxide of a non-metal which reacts with water to form an acid.

e.g

Base
A base is chemically opposite to an acid and can be defined in two ways:

1. A base is a substance which will react with an acid to form a salt and water only.

2. A base is a proton (H+) acceptor

E.g.

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 Chemistry Handout 10 REF #: 010

Bases include ammonia and most metal oxides and hydroxides. e.g magnesium oxide

Alkali

An alkali is a base which dissolves in or react with water to form a solution which contains OH - ions. The
solution is described as alkaline.

Note: an alkali is a soluble base.

e.g

Properties of Aqueous Alkali

1. Alkalis have a bitter taste

2. Alkali are soapy to touch
3. Alkalis are corrosive
4. Alkalis turn damp litmus paper from red to blue
5. Alkalis are electrolytes- they conduct electricity
6. Alkalis react with solutions containing metal ions (except potassium and sodium) to form insoluble
precipitates.

e.g

7. Alkalis react with zinc and aluminum forming a salt and hydrogen.

e.g

8. Alkalis react with ammonium salts forming salt, water and ammonia.

e.g

Types of Oxides

Oxides are binary compounds of oxygen with another element. E.g CO 2, SO2, CaO, ZnO, H2O. Based on their
acid-base characteristics oxides are classified as acidic, basic, amphoteric or neutral.

Acidic Oxides Basic Oxides Amphoteric Oxides Neutral Oxides

Are oxides of non-metals Are the oxides of Are metallic oxides Are oxides of non-metals that
(Group IV-VII) and can metals, and if soluble in which can react with show neither acidic nor basic

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Chemistry Handout 10 REF #: 010
combine with water to water, they will react both acids and strong properties and do not form salts
form an acid. with water to produce alkalis to form salt and when react when acids or bases.
hydroxides. water.

E.g SO2, SO3, CO2 E.g CaO, MgO, Na2O E.g Al(OH)3, Zn(OH)2, E.g CO, Nitrous Oxide N2O, nitric
Pb(OH)2, Al2O3, ZnO, oxide(NO).
PbO

The pH scale

The pH scale measures the acidic or basic strength of a substance using a universal indicator. Acids are a source of
hydrogen ions, and adding them to water increases the concentration of hydrogen ions in solution, lowering the
concentration of hydroxide ions. For alkalis, the opposite is true: they decrease the concentration of hydrogen
ions, whilst increasing the concentration of hydroxide ions.

Therefore, acidic or basic strength of a substance depends on the concentration of H + and OH- ions present in the
substance.

The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14. A pH of 7 is neutral and at this pH, the concentration of H + ions is equal to the
concentration of OH- ions. A pH less than 7 is acidic and contains more H + ions than OH- ions whiles a pH greater
than 7 is basic and contains more OH - ions than H+ ions. The Ph scale is logarithmic and as a result, each whole pH
vaule below 7 is 10 times higher than the next value. For example a pH of 4 is ten times more acidic than a pH of 5
and 100 (10 x 10) times more acidic than pH 6. The same holds true for pH values above 7, each of which is 10
times more alkaline (or basic) than the next lower whole value. Eg. A pH of 10 is 10 times more alkaline than pH of
10 and 100 (10 x 10) times more alkaline than pH 8.

Pure water is neutral but when chemicals are mixed with water, the mixture can become either acidic (vinegar,
lemon juice) or alkaline (basic), e.g milk of magnesia, and lye

The pH of some common substances:

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