Class -10

LESSON-2
ACID BASES AND SALTS

● Acids are sour in taste, turn blue litmus red, and dissolve in water to
release H+ ions e.g. HCl, H2SO4, HNO3 etc.
● There are two types of acids- 1. Natural acids or organic acids obtained
from natural resources eg- citric acid in citrus fruits like lemon, orange.
Acetic acid in vinegar. Lactic acid in curd etc. 2. Mineral acid obtained
from minerals for eg- HCl, NO3, H2SO4
● Bases are bitter in taste, have soapy touch, turn red litmus blue and give
hydroxide ions in solution.e.g. NaOH, KOH etc.
● There are two types of bases- water soluble and water insoluble. Bases
soluble in water are called alkalis for eg-hydroxides of sodium, potassium,
magnesium etc.

Ionisable and non-ionisable compounds

An ionisable compound when dissolved in water or in its molten state,
dissociates into ions almost entirely. Example: NaCl, HCl, KOH, etc.
A non-ionisable compound does not dissociate into ions when dissolved in
water or in its molten state. Example: glucose, acetone, etc.

Arrhenius theory of acids and bases

Arrhenius acid – when dissolved in water, dissociates to give H+ (aq) or H3O+
ion.
HCl (aq) → H+(aq) + Cl-(aq)
CH3COOH (aq) → CH3COO-(aq) + H+(aq)
Arrhenius base – when dissolved in water, dissociates to give OH− ion.
NaOH (aq) → Na+(aq) + OH- (aq)
Physical test
Given are two possible physical tests to identify an acid or a base.

a. Taste
An acid tastes sour whereas a base tastes bitter.
The method of taste is not advised as an acid or a base could be contaminated or
corrosive.

b. Effect on indicators by acids and bases

An indicator is a chemical substance which shows a change in its physical
 properties, mainly colour or odour when brought in contact with an acid or a
base.
Natural indicators: which are produced from natural sources. Eg- litmus ,
turmeric, red cabbage.
Synthetic indicators: which are produced in laboratories. Eg- methyl orange,
phenolphthalein.
Olfactory indicators: whose odour changes in acidic and basic medium. Eg-
vanilla, onion, clove.
Below mentioned are commonly used indicators and the different colours they
exhibit:

S INDICATOR COLOU COLOUR COLOUR IN

r. S R IN IN BASIC NEUTRAL
N ACIDIC MEDIUM MEDIUM
o MEDIU
. M
1 Litmus Red Blue No change(purple)
solution
2 Methyl Pink yellow orange
Orange
3 Phenolphthale Colourles Pink colourless
in s
4 Turmeric yellow Reddish Yellow
brown
5 Red cabbage Red Greenish Purple
yellow
6 Onion/ vanilla No Smell/odour -------------
change vanishes

Acid-Base Reactions
Reactions of acids and bases
a) Reaction of acids and bases with metals

Acid + metal → salt + hydrogen + heat

2HCl+Mg→MgCl2+H2 (↑)
The release of hydrogen gas can be tested by bringing a burning splinter
near it. It burns with a popping sound.
 Base + metal → salt + hydrogen + heat

2NaOH+Zn→Na2ZnO2+H2 (↑)

A more reactive metal displaces the less reactive metal from its base.

2Na+Mg (OH) 2→2NaOH+Mg

b) Reaction of acids with metal carbonates and bicarbonates

Acid + metal carbonate or bicarbonate → salt + water + carbon dioxide.

2HCl+CaCO3→CaCl2+H2O+CO2

HCl + NaHCO3 → NaCl + H2O + CO2

H2SO4+Mg (HCO3)2→MgSO4 + 2H2O + 2CO2

Effervescence indicates liberation of CO2 gas.

Test of evolution of CO2 gas:

Carbondioxide turns lime water milky.
On passing the carbon dioxide gas evolved through lime water a white
precipitate is formed due to the formation of calcium carbonate.
Ca(OH)2 +CO2 → CaCO3(white ppt) + H2O

On passing excess carbon dioxide the white precipitate disappears as

Ca(HCO3)2 is formed which is soluble in water.

CaCO3 + H2O + CO2 → Ca(HCO3)2 (soluble)

c) Neutralisation reaction
1. Reaction of metal oxides and hydroxides with acids
Metal oxides or metal hydroxides are basic in nature.
Acid + base → salt + water + heat

H2SO4+MgO → MgSO4 + H2O

2HCl+Mg (OH) 2 → MgCl2 + 2H2O

2. Reaction of non-metal oxides with bases

Non-metal oxides are acidic in nature

 Base + Non-metal oxide → salt + water + heat
2NaOH+CO2 → Na2CO3 + H2O

Acids and bases in water

When added to water, acids and bases dissociate into their respective ions and
help in conducting electricity.

Difference between a base and an alkali

Base-
Bases undergo neutralization reaction with acids.
They are comprised of metal oxides, metal hydroxides, metal carbonates and
metal bicarbonates.
Most of them are insoluble in water

Alkali –
An alkali is an aqueous solution of a base, (mainly metallic hydroxides).
It dissolves in water and dissociates to give OH− ion.
All alkalis are bases, but not all bases are alkalis.

Hydronium ion(H3O+)
Hydronium ion is formed when a hydrogen ion accepts a lone pair of electrons
from the oxygen atom of a water molecule, forming a coordinate covalent bond.
H+ + H2O → H3O+

Dilution
Dilution is the process of reducing the concentration of a solution by adding
more solvent (usually water) to it.
It is a highly exothermic process.
To dilute acid, the acid must be added to water and not the other way round.

Strength of acids and bases

Strong acid or base: When all molecules of a given amount of an acid or a base
dissociate completely in water to furnish their respective ions, H+(aq) for acid
and OH−(aq) for base.
Weak acid or base: When only a few of the molecules of a given amount of an
acid or a base dissociate in water to furnish their respective ions, H+(aq) for
acid and OH−(aq) for base).

Dilute acid: contains less number of H+(aq) ions per unit volume.
Concentrated acid: contains more number of H+(aq) ions per unit volume.
Universal indicator
A universal indicator has a pH range from 0 to 14 that indicates the acidity or
alkalinity of a solution. It helps to get the strength of an acid or a base.
A neutral solution has pH=7
PH Scale: The concentration of hydrogen ion in solution is expressed in
terms of pH. The pH of a solution is defined as the negative logarithm of
hydrogen ion concentration in moles per liter.
pH = - log [H+]
For water or neutral solutions, pH = 7 ; For acidic solutions, pH < 7; For
basic solutions, pH > 7

Importance of pH in everyday life

1. pH sensitivity of plants and animals

Plants and animals are sensitive to pH. Crucial life processes such as digestion
of food, functions of enzymes and hormones happen at a certain pH value.

2. pH of a soil
The pH of a soil optimal for the growth of plants or crops is 6.5 to 7.0.

3. pH in the digestive system

The process of digestion happens at a specific pH in our stomach which is 1.5 –
4.
The pH of the interaction of enzymes, while food is being digested, is
influenced by HCl in our stomach.

4. pH in tooth decay
Tooth decay happens when the teeth are exposed to an acidic environment of
pH 5.5 and below.

5. pH of self-defence by animals and plants

Acidic substances are used by animals and plants as a self-defence mechanism.
For example, bee and plants like nettle secrete a highly acidic substance for self-
defence. These secreted acidic substances have a specific pH.
Some Important Chemical Compounds:

Common Salt (NaCl)

Sodium chloride is known as common salt. Its main source is sea

water. It also exists in the form of rocks and is called rock salt.
Common salt is an important component of our food. It is also used for
preparing sodium hydroxide, baking soda, washing soda etc.

Sodium Hydroxide or Caustic Soda (NaOH)

It is prepared by passing electricity through an aqueous solution of

sodium chloride also known as brine.
2NaCl (aq) + 2 H2O (l) → 2NaOH (aq)+ Cl2 (g) + H2 (g)
This process is known as chlor-alkali process.

Properties:
1. It is white translucent solid.
2. Crystals of sodium hydroxide are deliquescent.
3. It is readily soluble in water and gives strong alkaline solution.

Bleaching Powder (CaOCl2)

Its chemical name is calcium oxychloride.

It is prepared by passing chlorine gas through dry slaked lime.

Ca (OH) 2 + Cl2 → CaOCl2 + H2O
Uses –
1. For bleaching cotton and linen in textile industry and wood pulp in
paper industry
2. For disinfecting drinking water.

Baking Soda (NaHCO3)

Chemical name is Sodium hydrogen carbonate.

It is prepared by passing CO2 gas through brine solution saturated with

ammonia.
NaCl + H2O +CO2 +NH3 → NH4Cl + NaHCO3

Properties:
1. It is white crystalline solid and sparingly soluble in water at room
temperature.
 2. On heating it decomposes to give sodium carbonate and carbon
dioxide.
3. It reacts with acids to give carbon dioxide gas.
4. It aqueous solution is weak alkaline due to hydrolysis.
Uses:
1. It is used in soda – acid fire extinguisher.
2. It acts as mild antiseptic and antacid.
3. It is used as a component of baking powder. In addition to sodium
hydrogen carbonate baking soda contains tartaric acid.

Washing Soda (Na2CO3.10 H2O)

Chemical name is sodium carbonate decahydrate.

It is prepared by heating baking soda. Recrystallisation of sodium carbonate

gives washing soda.
2NaHCO3 → Na2CO3 +H2O +CO2
Na2CO3 +10 H2O →Na2CO3. 10H2O

Uses:
1. It is used for removing permanent hardness of water.
2. It is used in glass, soap and paper industries.
3. It can be used as a cleaning agent for domestic purposes.

Plaster of Paris (CaSO4.1/2H2O)

Its chemical name is calcium sulphate hemihydrates. It is obtained by heating

Gypsum upto 373K. CaSO4.2H2O  CaSO4.1/2H2O + 11/2H2O

On treatment with water it is again converted into gypsum
and sets as a hard mass. CaSO4.1/2H2O+11/2H2OCaSO4.2H2O

Uses:-
1. It is used by doctors for setting fractured bones.

2. It is used for making statues, models and other decorative

materials.