BEAU VALLON SECONDARY SCHOOL / COMBINED SCIENCE -S2

Topic 3: Acids , Bases and Salts

Identification of acids and bases

Did you ever think why fruits have different tastes?

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 Acids

Figure 3.1

What is an acid ?

An acid is a compound that releases hydrogen ions (H+) when dissolves in water.( in an aqueous
medium )

aqueous medium = ( aq) (contains water)

Hydrochloric acid ionizes (releases) as follows in the aqueous medium and releases H+ ions.

Hydrochloric acid Hydrogen ion + Chloride ion

Based on the strength of releasing H+ ions in the aqueous medium, acids are
classified as strong acids and weak acids.

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strong acids

The acids that release H+ ions by complete ionization in aqueous medium are
strong acids.

Examples for strong acids:

Chemical name chemical formula

Hydrochloric acid (HCl)

Sulphuric acid (H2SO4)

Nitric acid (HNO3)

weak acids.

The acids which release H+ ions in aqueous medium by incomplete or partial

ionization are called weak acids

Examples for weak acids:

Chemical name chemical formula

Acetic acid (CH3COOH)

Carbonic acid (H2CO3)

Phosphoric acid (H3PO4)

Most of the acids in laboratory stores are concentrated acids. Dilute acids of required concentration can be
prepared by mixing such concentrated acids with water. Acids of low concentration are known as dilute
acids

Chemicals properties of acids

(1)
Pay your attention to the warning symbol in Figure 3.2 seen in the label of the bottles containing
concentrated acids. This is a warning about the corrosive nature of the relevant chemical. That is, when they
come into contact with substances like wood, metals or cloth they corrode them and if spilled on the skin,
they cause severe burns. This shows that acids have corrosive properties.

figure 3.2
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(2)

Recall the taste of lime juice. It is sour. A common feature of acids is that they have a characteristic sour
taste.

Caution: You should not taste the acids used in the laboratory.

(3)

Dilute acids react with metals above hydrogen in the reactivity series forming
the salt of the metal and hydrogen gas.

example

Most dilute acids react with metals such as magnesium, aluminium, zinc and iron to produce a

………salt………… and …hydrogen ……………… gas. An example is the reaction of zinc with

sulphuric acid to produce …Zinc sulphate salt…… and …hydrogen……………… gas

Word equation

Write a word equation for the reaction

Zinc + sulphuric acid Zinc sulphate + hydrogen

 Word equation means , An equation with the reactants and products written as their chemical
names
 In this word equation

Zinc and sulphuric acid are reactants

Zinc sulphate and hydrogen are products

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(4) Acids react with metals carbonates

Think back on the experiment carried out to prepare carbon dioxide gas in the laboratory. Carbon dioxide was
prepared by adding diluted hydrochloric acid to calcium carbonate.

Production of carbon dioxide by reacting with carbonates/hydrogen carbonates is a characteristic feature of

acids.

Most dilute acids react with metals carbonates to produce a ……salt…………… , ……water……………

and ………carbon dioxide………gas

For example when calcium carbonate is added to hydrochloric acid to produce …calcium chloride

………water…………… and … carbon dioxide ………… gas

Word equation

calcium carbonate + hydrochloric acid calcium chloride + water + carbon dioxide

(5) Acids neutralise metals oxides (Bases)

( BLUE COLOUR)
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 Acids react with bases such as metal oxides to form ……salt…………… and ……water…………… .

For example, when black copper (II) oxide is added to warm dilute sulphuric acid, the black solid

disappears and a blue solution of ……copper (II) sulphate…… and ……water…………… forms

Word equation

copper (II) oxide + sulphuric acid copper (II) sulphate + water

(6) Acids neutralise alkalis ( bases)

Acids react with alkalis such as metal hydroxides to form …salt……………… and …water……………… .

For example, when sodium hydroxide is added to dilute hydrochloric acid to produce …sodium

chloride……… and …………water………

 This reaction is called…… neutralisation……………. When the acid reacts completely with the alkali we

say it has neutralised the alkali.

Word equation

Hydrochloric acid + sodium hydroxide sodium chloride +water

(7) Acids turn the colour of blue litmus red. This is a simple test used to identify acids .

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 Uses of common acids in everyday life
Acids are important in everyday life and in industry. They are used to make foods, clothes and medicine.

i. Acids in our foods

Many foods and drink contain acids

 citrus fruits – oranges, lemons, pineapples, and grapefruit – contain citric acid.
 tomato sauce, brown sauce and mint sauce get their sharp taste from vinegar which contain acetic acid
 ant stings and stinging nettles contain methanoic acid
 rhubarb contain oxalic acid
 grape juice contain tartaric acid
 sour milk contain lactic acid
 fizzy drinks contain carbonic acid formed when carbon dioxide dissolves in water

ii. Acids in our bodies

Our stomach wall produces hydrochloric acid. This gives a pH of about 2 in the stomach. These acidic
conditions help us to digest (break down) food, particularly protein.

iii. Acids in the air – acid rain

When fuels burn, sulphur dioxide and carbon dioxide are produced. Sulphur dioxide and carbon dioxide
react with water vapour and rain in the air to form sulphurous acid. These acids make the rain acidic, which
is why we use the term ‘acid rain’

iv. Acids in the soil

The pH of soil can vary from about 4 to 8, but most soils have a pH of between 6.5 and 7.5.

In industry

Hydrochloric acid

 Removal of rust in steel objects

 Making gelatin from bony materials in food technology

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 Sulphuric acid

 Production of fertilizers such as ammonium sulphate and triple superphosphate

 Making battery acid ( Battery acid is diluted sulphuric acid)
 Production of paints, plastics and detergents
 Concentrated sulphuric acid is used as a dehydrating agent
 Drying gases (For drying a gas, the relevant gas is bubbled through concentrated
sulphuric acid)

Acetic acid

 Processing food where vinegar is used

 Coagulation of rubber latex
 Production of photographic films
 Used in the paper industry
 Production of synthetic threads in textile industry

Summary questions

Multiple choice

Q1. Acids have ………………………………….. taste.

A .Sweet

B .Sour

C .Bitter

D .Salty

Q2 . The reaction of acid and alkali is called

A . Rusting

B . Neutralisation

C .Combustion

D .Chlorination

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Q3

Q 4. Four bottles contain aqueous solutions, P, Q, R and S.

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  NaOH is sodium hydroxide which is an alkali

(i) Which one of these solutions contains sulfuric acid? ................................. [1 ]

(ii) Which one of these solutions contains hydrochloric acid ?.............................. [1 ]

(iii) State which two solutions would react together to produce a solution containing sodium
chloride.

solution ……………… and solution ……………… [2 ]

(iv) Write the word equation for the reaction in (iii)

[2 ]

(v).Name two substances , in the diagram above that will turn blue litmus to red.

………………………………………………………………………. [1]

Q5

(a). Complete the following word equations using suitable words from the box below

Carbonate , metal , salt , water

i . Acid + ………………………………. Salt + Hydrogen gas [1 ]

ii. Acid + Alkali …………………………. + Water [1 ]

iii .Acid + …………………………… Carbon dioxide + Salt +………………. [2 ]

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(b). State whether the following are true or false [ 3 marks]

I . The chemical formula of Hydrochloric acid is NCl ………………………………………….

iii. potassium chloride and magnesium chloride are salts …………………………………….

iv. Carbon dioxide gas turns lime water milky ……………………………………………………….

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