Q U E S T I O N S O N A C I D S , B A S E S , A N D S A LT S

Core syllabus content

1 Rewrite the following, choosing the correct word from each pair in
brackets.
Acids are compounds that dissolve in water giving hydrogen ions.
Sulfuric acid is an example. It can be neutralised by (acids / bases)
to form salts called (nitrates / sulfates).
Many (metals / non-metals) react with acids to give (hydrogen / carbon
dioxide). Acids react with (chlorides / carbonates) to give (hydrogen / carbon
dioxide).
Since they contain ions, solutions of acids are (good / poor) conductors
of electricity. They also affect indicators. Litmus turns (red / blue) in acids
while phenolphthalein turns (pink / colourless).
The level of acidity of an acid is shown by its (concentration / pH number).
The (higher / lower) the number, the more acidic the solution.
2 A and B are white powders. A is insoluble in water, but B dissolves.
Its solution has a pH of 3.
A mixture of A and B bubbles or effervesces in water, giving off a gas.
A clear solution forms.
a Which of the two powders is an acid?
b The other powder is a carbonate. Which gas bubbles off in the
reaction?
c Although A is insoluble in water, a clear solution forms when the
mixture of A and B is added to water. Explain why.
3 Oxygen reacts with other elements to form oxides.
Three examples are: calcium oxide, phosphorus pentoxide, and
copper(II) oxide.
a Which of these is:
i an insoluble base?
ii a soluble base?
iii an acidic oxide?
b When the soluble base is dissolved in water, the solution changes the
colour of litmus paper. What colour change will you see?
c Name the gas given off when the soluble base is heated with
ammonium chloride.
d i Write a word equation for the reaction between the insoluble base
and sulfuric acid.
ii What is this type of reaction called?
e Name another acidic oxide.

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Method of Reactants Salt formed Other products

preparation
a acid 1 alkali calcium hydroxide and nitric acid calcium nitrate water
b acid 1 metal zinc and hydrochloric acid .................................. .................................
c acid 1 alkali ................. and potassium hydroxide potassium sulfate water only
d acid 1 carbonate ........................... and ...................... sodium chloride water and ..............
e acid 1 metal ........................... and ...................... iron(II) sulfate .................................
f acid 1 ................... nitric acid and sodium hydroxide ................................... .................................
g acid 1 insoluble base ........................... and copper(II) oxide copper(II) sulfate .................................
h acid 1 .................. ........................... and ........................ copper(II) sulfate carbon dioxide and ...............

4 The table above is about the preparation of salts.

i Copy it and fill in the missing details.
ii Write balanced equations for the eight reactions.
5 The drawings show the preparation of copper(II) ethanoate, a salt of
ethanoic acid.
i powdered ii
copper(II) carbonate

dilute
bubbles
ethanoic
of gas
acid

iii copper(II) ethanoate iv

solution

residue

unreacted
copper(II)
filtrate
carbonate

heat

a Which gas is given off in stage ii?

b i Write a word equation for the reaction in ii.
ii How can you tell when it is over?
c Which reactant above is:
i present in excess? What is your evidence?
ii completely used up in the reaction?
d Copper(II) carbonate is used in powder form, rather than as lumps.
Suggest a reason.
e Name the residue in stage iv.
f Write a list of instructions for carrying out this preparation in
the laboratory.
g Suggest another copper compound to use instead of copper(II)
carbonate, to make the salt.

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Extended syllabus content

6 Magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) is the chemical name for Epsom salts.
It can be made in the laboratory by neutralising the base magnesium
oxide (MgO).
a Which acid should be used to make Epsom salts?
b Write a balanced equation for the reaction.
c i The acid is fully dissociated in water. Which term describes
this type of acid?
ii Which ion causes the ‘acidity’ of the acid?
d i What is a base?
ii Write an ionic equation that shows the oxide ion (O2 2) acting
as a base.
7 a i From the list on page 156, write down two starting compounds that
could be used to make the insoluble compound silver chloride.
ii What is this type of reaction called?
b i Write the ionic equation for the reaction.
ii List the spectator ions for the reaction.
8 Washing soda is crystals of hydrated sodium carbonate, Na2CO3.xH2O.
The value of x can be found by titration.
In the experiment, 2 g of hydrated sodium carbonate neutralised 14 cm3 of
a standard 1 M solution of hydrochloric acid.
a What does hydrated mean?
b Write a balanced equation for the reaction that took place during the
titration.
c How many moles of HCl were neutralised?
d How many moles of sodium carbonate, Na2CO3, were in 2 g of the
hydrated salt?
e What mass of sodium carbonate, Na2CO3, is this? (Mr : Na 5 23, C 5 12,
O 5 16)
f What mass of the hydrated sodium carbonate was water?
g How many moles of water is this?
h How many moles of water are there in 1 mole of Na2CO3.xH2O?
i Write the full formula for washing soda.

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