Acids, Bases and Salts

Acids Bases
Chemical compounds which releases hydrogen iohns Chemical compounds which releases hydroxyl ions
(H+) in an aqueous solution. (OH-) in an aqueous solution.

Strong Acids Strong Bases

✓ Completely ionize and release H+ ions in an ✓ Completely ionize and release OH- ions in
aqueous medium. an aqueous medium.
Ex Ex:

Weak Bases
Weak Acids
✓ Partially ionize and release OH- ions
✓ Partially ionize and release H ions
+
incompletely.
incompletely.
✓ In an aqueous medium,
✓ In an aqueous medium,
- Some of the base molecules breakdown to
- Some of the acid molecules breakdown to OH-
H+
- Some remain as the base molecule
- Some remain as the acid molecule
Examples for weak bases;
Ammonia solution (NH4OH)
Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3)

Acid
molecule

Strong base weak base

 Properties of Acids and Bases
Acids
✓ Concentrated acids are corrosive.
✓ Generally acids has a sour taste
✓ Reacts with carbonates and
bicarbonates and release CO2
✓ Conduct electricity in a aqueous
solution
✓ React with metals and release H2
Bases
✓ Has a slimy (slippery) texture
✓ Generally tastes bitter
✓ Bases which readily dissolve in
water are called alkalis
✓ Dissolve fats and oils

What is the name given for compounds which do not show acidic or basic properties?

Salts
✓ Acids react with bases and produce salts.
✓ When strong acids and strong bases reacts, neutral salts are produced.
✓ The salt can be acidic or basic based on the strength of the acid and base which reacts.
Ex: Sodium chloride (NaCl)
Copper sulphate (CuSO4)
Neutralisation reactions
✓ Water is produced during any reaction between acids and bases.

✓ During a reaction between an acid and a base, the combination of H+ ions with OH-
ions to form water molecules is known as ‘neutralisation’.
Acid + Base Salt + Water
Indicators
Compounds which are used to identify acids and bases are known as ‘indicators’.

Litmus Papers
There are two types of litmus papers.
• Blue litmus
• Red litmus
Both papers are required to identify the acidity/basicity
of a solution

The below diagram shows three instances where litmus papers are used to identify
compounds.
Which one is the acid? Base ? and the neutral substance?

A B C

pH scale

pH papers are used to identify acids and bases.

What is the advantage in using pH papers instead of litmus papers?
Questions
1. Separate the below compounds as acids, bases and neutral substances.

Tomatoes, soap, lime juice, lime water, table salt, distilled water, toothpaste,
digestive juices, ammonia solution, vinegar, milk of magnesia, sugar solution

Acids Bases Neutral

2. Milk of magnesia is a medicine taken for acidity in stomach. Explain how it helps to
control the acidity in stomach?
3. Complete the below neutralization reactions.
• NaOH (aq) + HCl (aq)
• KOH (aq) + HCl (aq)
• Mg(OH)2 (aq) + HNO3 (aq)
• NaOH(aq) + HNO3 (aq)