SECTION B:

UNIT VI: ACIDS, BASES AND MIXTURES

Properties of acid, base and Salt
Acid Base
1. If concentrated they can be corrosive. 1. If concentrated they can burn the skin.

2. Acids taste sour (for example, vinegar). 2. Taste bitter

3. Turn blue litmus paper red - this is an easy test for 3. They turn red litmus blue - this is how you test
an acid! for an alkali!

4. React with metals to form salts and hydrogen gas. 4. Does not react with metal
Eg. Hydochloric acid + zinc zinc chloride + hydrogen gas
5. Alkalis contain hydroxide ions (OH-). Eg NaOH
5. Acids contain hydrogen ions. Eg. HCL
6. Turns Universal Indicator from green to blue or
6. Turn Universal Indicator from green to red, and purple.
have a pH less than 7.
Examples of acids: are vinegar (ethanoic acid) Eg. Soap, detergents
and lemon juice (citric acid)

Properties of Salt
Formed when acid react with base which is called a neutralisation reaction

NaCl is the same thing as table salt. Other salt used at home: toothpaste, epsom salt(magnesium sulfate),
baking soda(sodiumhydrogencarbonate)

Examples of Acid and bases found at home

 What do we used to test for acid and base?
By using an indicator.  Indicators are substances whose solutions change color due to changes in pH.
Examples of indicators
pH indicator - this indicator consist of a pH scale which measures how acidic or basic a substance is.
The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14.

Other indicators

Classification of household chemicals in each category.

1. Solution – This is a homogenous mixture where one of the substances dissolves evenly in the other. The
substance that dissolves is called the solute. The substance that does not dissolve is called the
solvent. Example: white vinegar, sugar water, salt water, bleach, corn oil, and blood plasma.

2. Suspensions – This is a heterogenous mixture containing large particles that will settle on standing after
mixing. Example sand and water, brown sauce, muddy water, paint, etc.

3. Colloids - A colloid is a mixture where very small particles of one substance are evenly distributed
throughout another substance but the particles are suspended in the solution rather than fully dissolved. The
difference between a colloid and a suspension is that the particles will not settle to the bottom over a period
of time, they will stay suspended or float. Example: a colloid is milk.
 Separating mixtures
The individual substances in a mixture can be separated using different methods, depending on the type of
mixture. These methods include filtration, evaporation, distillation and chromatography.
Evaporation is used to separate a soluble solid from a liquid. For example, copper sulfate is soluble in water
– its crystals dissolve in water to form copper sulfate solution. During evaporation, the water evaporates
away leaving solid copper sulfate crystals behind
Simple distillation is a method for separating the solvent from a solution. For example, water can be
separated from salt solution by simple distillation. When the solution is heated, the water evaporates. The salt
does not evaporate and so it stays behind.
Chromatography is a method for separating dissolved substances from one another. It is often used when the
dissolved substances are coloured, such as inks, food colourings and plant dyes. It works because some of
the coloured substances dissolve in the solvent used better than others, so they travel further up the paper.
Disinfectant, Hard and Soft Water

Antiseptic Disinfectant

Dis- means reversal or break, so a disinfectant is

Anti- means opposite or preventative, so an
something that destroys or reverses the growth of
antiseptic is something that prevents the growth of
bacteria. Used for non-living things like furniture
bacteria. Used for humans and animals
and other household items

Commonly found in healthcare centers or

Commonly found in homes or public places
hospitals

Cleanses wounds and surgical sites to prevent Kills microorganisms on the surface of non-
infection and other complications living things

Includes mouthwash and cold sore and yeast Includes cleaning products for houses and public
infection treatment creams places
Stain removal is the process of removing a mark or spot left by one substance on a specific surface like a
fabric. 
Method of Stain Removal
1. Neutralisation – stains are caused by substances that are acidic or basic. The stains can be remove by using
either a base or acid to neutralize the stain. For example, tannin stains in coffee, tea, and wine, soft drinks,
fruit juice, which are base can be neutralize with an acid detergent called borax.
2. removing stain with solvents. A solvent is a substance (usually a liquid) that removes a stain. Common
solvents are detergents, bleaches, pre-treatment products, alcohol, ammonia, dry cleaning fluid, nail polish
removers, rust removers.
- Oxidizing solvents: Household bleach generally removes a stain's colour, without dissolving the stain itself.
Hydrogen peroxide is also a bleaching agent that can be used to treat stains.
3. by using detergents: Surfactants (detergents) are molecules that have one polar end and one non-polar end
and can be used for stain removal.

Often we use the words "soap" and "detergent" interchangeably, but really they're quite different things. A
detergent is a chemical substance you use to break up and remove grease and grime, while soap is simply
one kind of detergent.