Chapter 6: Acids and Bases

6.1 The Role of Water in Showing Acidic and Alkaline Properties

A. Acids:
1.From Swedish chemist, Arrhenius:
An acid is a substance which ionizes/ dissociates in water to produce hydrogen ion,H+
Eg: HCl(aq) + H2O(l) → H3O+(aq) + Cl-(aq) or H3O+: hydroxonium ion
HCl(aq) → H (aq) + Cl (aq)
+ -

2.Monoprotic acid:____________, diprotic acid:___________, triprotic acid:__________

3.Two groups of acid:

Mineral acids: HCl,(Hydrochloric acid), HNO3,Nitric acid,
H2SO4, sulphuric acid (Strong acids) H3PO4, Phosphoric acid(weak acid).

Organic acids: HCOOH, methanoic acid, CH3COOH,ethanoic acid,

C2H5COOH, propanoic acid(Weak acids)

4.Physical properties of acids:

a.sour b.corrode

5.Acids need water to show acidic properties

Test tube Observation of the blue litmus paper
Glacial ethanoic acid
Glacial ethanoic acid+distilled water
Glacial ethanoic acid+propanone

6.Experiment 6.1: To study the role of water in showing acidic properties.

Contents Observations
Solid oxalic acid, C2H2O2
Solid oxalic acid, C2H2O2 + water
1. Name the ion that is responsible for showing the acidic properties.
Hydrogen ion, H+

2. Solid oxalic acid, C2H2O2 had differences in observation compared to the solid
oxalic acid, C2H2O2 that has been dissolved in water. Give a reason.

Without water, solid oxalic acid, C2H2O2 exists in the form of . are
not present. Thus, solid oxalic acid, C2H2O2 does not show properties. The
colour of the blue litmus paper .
When solid oxalic acid, C2H2O2 is dissolved in water, the oxalic acid molecules, C2H2O2
ionise to produce . Hydrogen ions, H+ cause oxalic acid, C2H2O2 to exhibit
properties. Hence the blue litmus paper changes to .

7.Uses of acids
No Acid Uses
1 Sulphuric acid i)To make
ii)
iii)
7.1
 iv)
v)
2 Nitric acid i)To make
ii)
iii)
iv)
3 Benzoic acid As a
4 Ethanoic acid As a
5 Methanoic acid To

B. Bases:
1.From Arrhenius:
A base is a substance which ionises in water to produce hydroxide ions, OH-.
NaOH → Na+ + OH- or NH3 + H2O → NH4+ + OH-

2.Two type of the bases:

a.Ionic bases:NH3, Na2O, NaOH, K2O, KOH [soluble in water to become(alkali)]
b.Covalent bases:MgO, Mg(OH)2, Al2O3, Al(OH)3 [Insoluble in water]
*Ionic and covalent can react with acid to produce salt and water.

3.An alkali is defined:

An alkali is a a substance which ionises in water to produce hydroxide ions, OH-.
(base that is soluble in water and ionises to produce hydroxide ions, OH-)

4.Physical properties of alkalis:

a.bitter b.slippery c.corrode

5.Bases need water to show basic properties:

Test tube Observation of a piece dry red litmus paper
NH3 in water
NH3 in trichloromethane

6. Experiment 6.2: To study the role of water in showing alkaline properties.

1. Name the ion that is responsible to show alkaline properties.
Hydrogen ion, OH–

2. Explain the difference in observation between using a pellet of sodium hydroxide,

NaOH and sodium hydroxide solution, NaOH

Without water, the hydroxide ions, OH– in the sodium hydroxide pellets, NaOH cannot
move freely as they are bonded in its lattice structure. Thus, it does not show
properties. The colour of the red litmus paper .
When sodium hydroxide pellets, NaOH are dissolved in water, it will ionise to produce
. Hydroxide ions, OH– will move freely in water. The presence of
mobile hydroxide ions, OH– causes the sodium hydroxide solution, NaOH to show
properties. Hence the red litmus paper changes to .

7.2
 7.Uses of bases/alkali
No Base Uses
1 Ammonia i)To make
ii)
iii)
iv)
2 Sodium hydroxide i)To make
ii)
iii)
3 Calsium hydroxide i)To make
ii)To neutralise
4 Magnesium hydroxide To make
5 Aluminium oxide To make

7.3