NOTES- ACIDS, BASES AND SALTS

ACIDS
1. Acids are sour in taste.
2. Acid + H2O H+ ions
Eg: H2SO4, HCl, HNO3 are strong
acids, since they dissociate
completely and forms H+ ions.
H2CO3, H3PO4 are weak acids, do
not break completely in aqueous
solution.
BASES
1. Bases are bitter in taste and soapy in
touch.
2. Base+ H2O OH- ions.
Eg: NaOH, KOH are strong bases,
since they dissociate completely in
aqueous solution and forms OH- ions.
Ca(OH)2, Mg(OH)2 are weak bases,
since they do not dissociate completely
in aqueous solution.

Hydronium ion:
The hydrogen ion combines with a molecule of water to form hydronium ion H3O+, the
form in which hydrogen ions are found in aqueous solution.

Concentrated acids: More amount of acid + less amount of water.

Dilute acids: More amount of water + less amount of acids.

Electrolytes & non electrolytes:

Compounds that dissolve in water and dissociate into ions can conduct electricity and are
called electrolytes. Eg: Acids, alkalis and salts.
Electrically neutral particles that are soluble in water, such as sugar, do not split up into
ions and therefore, they do not conduct electricity.
Substances whose aqueous solutions do not conduct electricity are referred to as non-
electrolytes.
Eg: Distilled water, alcohol, sugar

Indicators:
Those chemicals which help to detect the nature of other chemicals.
Types of indicators:
1) Natural indicators-Found in nature in plants. Eg: turmeric, litmus, red cabbage etc
2) Synthetic indicators- These are chemical substances. Eg: Phenolphthalein, Methyl
orange.
3) Olfactory indicators- These substances have different odour in acid and bases.
4) Universal indicators-is a blend of pH indicator solutions designed to identify the
pH of a solution over a wide range of solutions.
a) Litmus solution:
Litmus solution is a purple coloured dye extracted from lichen plant. It is the most
commonly used natural indicator. Two types of litmus solutions are used called
blue litmus solution and red litmus solution.
In acidic solution the blue litmus turns red and in basic solution it remain blue
itself.
In acidic solution red litmus remains red and in basic solution red litmus turns
blue.
b) Turmeric:
Acid + turmeric – no change
Base + turmeric – Red
c) Methyl orange:
Acid+ Methyl Orange Red
Base + Methyl Orange Yellow
 d) Phenolphthalein:
It is a transparent solution.
Acid+ Phenolphthalein No Change
Base + Phenolphthalein Pink

e) Universal indicator:
Is a mixture of several indicators which gives different colours at different pH
values. It tells the pH (strength of hydrogen), identify how acidic or basic is the
solution.
The pH scale is 0 to 14.

Importance of pH in everyday life.

1. Human body pH is 7 to 7.8, only a narrow range of pH change is tolerable.
2. Tooth decay – normal pH in the mouth is below 5.5 less than that result in tooth
decay. (Bacteria present in the mouth produce acids by degradation of sugar and
food particles remaining in the mouth after eating). This acid will corrode the
 tooth enamel. Cleaning the teeth after food will prevent it. Using a mild base like
toothpaste will neutralize the excess acid and prevent tooth decay.
3. Acidity in the stomach: stomach produces HCl to help in the digestion. During
indigestion the stomach produces too much of acid and this causes pain and
irritation. To get rid of this, we can use bases called antacid.
Eg: Magnesium hydroxide (milk of magnesia)
4. Acid rain: when pH of rain water is less than 5.6, it is called acid rain. It will harm
the soil, plants as well as survival of aquatic life becomes difficult.
5. Animal stings: bee sting leaves out formic acid (also known as methanoic acid)
which causes irritation and pain; it can be controlled by a mild base like baking
soda.
Wasp’s sting has alkaline venom and its effects can be neutralized by using
vinegar or an acid.
6. Natural defence in plants: stinging hair of nettle leaves inject methanoic acid
causing burning pain; a traditional remedy for this is rubbing the area with a leaf
of the dock plant.

SALTS: Acids and bases react to form salt and water.

Acid + base Salt + water.
Neutralisation reaction: reaction of an acid with a base is called neutralization
reaction.
a) Strong acid + strong base neutral salt + water
Eg: HCl+ NaOH NaCl + H2O
b) Strong acid + weak base acidic salt + water
Eg: 2HCl + Mg(OH)2 MgCl2 + 2H2O
c) Weak acid + strong base basic salt + water
Eg: H2CO3 + 2NaOH Na2CO3 + H2O
d) Weak acid + weak base neutral salt + water
CH3COOH + NH4OH CH3COONH4 + H2O
Reactions of acids and bases:
1. Reaction of acids with metals: Acids react with metals to form metal salt and
releases hydrogen gas.
Eg: 2HCl + Zn ZnCl2 + H2
2. Reaction of bases with metals :
Base + metal salt + water
Eg: 2NaOH + Zn Na2ZnO2 + H2

❖ Hydrogen gas released can be tested by bringing burning candle near gas bubbles,
it bursts with pop sound.

3. Reaction of acids with metal carbonates and metal hydrogencarbonates:

Metal carbonate/metal hydrogen carbonate + Acid salt + water + CO2
Eg: 2HCl + Na2CO3 2NaCl + H2O + CO2
HCl + NaHCO3 NaCl + H2O + CO2
❖ CO2 can be tested by passing it through lime water. It turns lime water milky.
Ca(OH)2 + CO2 CaCO3 + H2O
If excess CO2 is passed, milkiness disappears.
CaCO3 + H2O+ CO2 Ca(HCO3)2
❖ Bases do not react with metal carbonates and metal hydrogencarbonates.

4. Reaction of metallic oxides with acids:

Metallic oxides are basic in nature.
Metal oxide + acid salt + water
Eg: Na2O + 2HCl 2NaCl + H2
5. Reaction of non-metallic oxides with bases.
Non-metallic oxides are acidic in nature.
Non-metal oxide + base salt + water
Eg: Ca(OH)2 + CO2 CaCO3 + H2O.
1. Common salt: NaCl (Sodium chloride):
This is a raw material for the preparation of various materials of daily life.
When electricity is passed through an aqueous solution of NaCl( called brine
solution) it decomposes to form chlorine, hydrogen andsodium hydroxide.The
process is called chlor-alkali process.
2NaCl + 2H2O = 2NaOH + Cl2 + H2

❖ Uses of H2 :
a) Industrial fuel
b) Production of ammonia (NH3) fertilizer
C) Manufacture of margarine (Adding Hydrogen into fat or butter)
❖ Uses of Cl2 : (poisonous gas)
a) Water treatment, disinfecting water
b) Cleaning of swimming pool
c) Pesticide
d) CFC, PVC
❖ Uses of NaOH:
a) Degreasing metal
b) Artificial fibre and paper factory
c) Soap/detergent formation.
 • H2 + Cl2 2HCl (used to cleaning steel, to form NH4Cl and
medicines and cosmetics)
• Cl2 + NaOH will form Bleach which is used for cleaning fabrics and other
domestic bleaches.
2. Bleaching powder (CaOCl2) – Calcium oxychloride:
It is prepared by the action of chlorine on dry slaked lime

Uses of Bleaching powder:

a) Used for bleaching cotton and linen in the textile industry, bleaching
wood pulp in paper industry and bleaching washed clothes in laundry.
b) As an oxidising agent in many chemical industries
c) Used for disinfecting drinking water.
3. Baking soda (NaHCO3) –Sodium hydrogen carbonate.
It is produced by using Nacl as one of the raw materials.

Uses of NaHCO3:
a) For making baking powder, which is a mixture of baking soda and mild
edible acid (like tartaric acid)
b) Used in baking industries as carbon dioxide is generated (due to
decomposition of NaHCO3) which helps in the raising of the dough.

c) Acts as an antacid which is used to treat stomach upset and indigestion.

 d) Used in soda-acid fire extinguishers.
2NaHCO3 + H2SO4 ⇒ Na2SO4 + 2H2O + 2CO2
4. Washing soda (Na2CO3.10H2O)- sodium carbonate:
Sodium carbonate can be obtained by heating baking soda. Crystallisation of this
sodium carbonate gives washing soda.
Na2CO3 +10H2O Na2CO3 .10H2O
(10H2O is the water of crystallisation)
• Water of crystallisation is the fixed number of water molecules present in one
formula unit of a salt.
• Salts which contain water of crystallisation are called hydrated salts.
• The salts which have lost their water of crystallisation are called anhydrous salts.
Uses of washing soda:
a) Used in making glass, paper and soap.
b) Used in manufacture of sodium compounds such as borax.
c) Used as cleaning agent for domestic purposes.
d) Used to remove permanent hardness of water.
5. Plaster of Paris (CaSO4 . ½ H2O)—calcium sulphate hemihydrate.
On heating gypsum at fixed temperature plaster of Paris is obtained.
CaSO4.2H2O CaSO4. ½ H2O + 1 ½ H2 O
Gypsum Plaster of Paris
Uses of plaster of Paris:
a) Used in plastering fractured bone.(Because on mixing plaster of Paris with water it
changes to gypsum and sets into hard solid mass)
b) Used in making toys, decoration materials.