Study unit 7 chemistry

Acid
Neutralizes bases
→ Sour taste
→ Dissolves in water to produce h+ ions
→ Conduct electricity when dissolved in water
→ React with metals to produce compound and hydrogen gas
→ React with metal carbonates to produce a compound, water and carbon
dioxide gas
Reactions- warm colors or clear
Litmus- red, bromothymol blue- yellow
Binary acids-acid composed of hydrogen and a non-metal (HCl)
Oxyacid- acid composed of hydrogen, oxygen and another non-metal
*polyatomic* (H2CO3)
Examples
o Citric acid in lemons
o Sulphuric acid in car batteries
o Acetic acid is found in vinegar
Identifying and naming acids
→ Starts with H
→ Aq symbol
1. For binary acids start with the prefix “hydro”
2. Write the root of the non metal
3. Add the ending of “ ic acid”
Ex. HF(aq) is hydrofluoric acid
1. Write the name of the polyatomic ion without the “ate” ending
2. Replace the “ate” ending with the ending “ic acid”
Ex. H2CO3(Aq) is carbonic acid
 bases
Neutralizes acids
→ Bitter taste
→ Feel slippery
→ Dissolves in water to release OH- ions
→ Conduct electricity when dissolved in water
→ Does not react with metals and metal carbonates
Reactions- blue, yellow, Fuschia, green
Litmus- blue, phenolphthalein- pink
Examples
o Sodium hydroxide is found in oven and drain cleaners
o Magnesium hydroxide is found in antacids
o Ammonium hydroxide is found in window cleaners
Identifying and naming bases
→ Start with a metal or NH4
→ Chemical formula ends with OH
→ Aq symbol
1. The first part of the name always identifies the name of the metal
2. For the second part of the name add the word “ hydroxide”
Ex LiOH(aq) is litmus hydroxide

Acid-base indicator
→ A substance changes colour depending on Wheater it is an acid or base
 Ph scale
Ph
→ A measure of how acidic or basic a solution is
Ph scale
→ 0-14 scale to classify aqueous solution as acidic, basic and neutral
→ Ph< 7 acidic
→ Ph > 7 basic
→ Ph=7 neutral

→ A change in one Ph means a tenfold effect on the concentration of the

solution
→ A solution with PH of 3 is 10 times more acidic than a solution with a ph. of
4
→ A solution with a ph. of 10 is one hundred times more basic than a solution
with a ph. of 8
Ph and our lives
→ 1. Ph and soil
• The ph. of soil depends on the type of rock nearby, type of plants growing,
and materials added to it intentionally and unintentionally.
• Beans grow best in that soil that is basic, corn in mildly acidic (5-6) and
potatoes in soil with a ph.< 5
Acid and leaching
 • The process of removing heavy metal from contaminated soils by adding an
acid solution to the soil and catching the solution that drains through.
• The soil is then returned to its original site
• Process is expensive and disrupts local ecosystems

2. PH and consumer products

• Many cosmetic products advertise that they are “PH balanced” and are
designed to have a ph. that is close to neutral.
• Many cleaning products are very basic with high Ph values, they are
corrosive which makes them good cleaners but can be damaging to the skin.
3. Ph an swimming pools
• Ideally, the ph. of pool water should be maintained with a narrow range of
7.2 and 7.8.
• The Ph of a pool should be tested on a regular basis and products are added
to it as needed to maintain the Ph is the desired range.

Indicators
Indicators Acid Base
Cabbage extract Red Green
Litmus paper –red Red Blue
Litmus paper- blue Red blue
Phenolphthalein Clear fuschia
Methyl orange Red Yellow
Bromothymol blue Yellow Blue
 Acid precipitation
→ Any precipitation (rain, snow ,fail, etc.) that has a PH less than the normal
Ph of rain (6-5.6)
→ Normal rain is slightly acidic due to natural carbon dioxide in air
 Acid rain is caused by pollutants
→ So2 from burning fossil fuels and smelting
→ No NOx (no and NO2) from vehicle engine reacting with water in the air to
form sulfuric and nitric acids
→ Solutions: scrubbers in smokestacks, catalytic converts in vehicles
Environmental impact of acid precipitation
Aquatic ecosystem
→ Aquatic life can tolerate only minor changes in Ph
→ As PH gets smaller the most fragile organism can die
Soil
→ Buffering capacity: the ability of a substance to resist changes in Ph
→ Soils with limestone have high buffering capacity and can neutralize acid
rain