BEAU VALLON SECONDARY SCHOOL / COMBINED SCIENCE -S2

Topic 3: Acids, Bases and Salts

Lesson -2

Bases /Alkalis

Many substances we use in the home are bases. Dish washer tablets, washing powder and cleaning
liquids all contains bases. Antacid tablets used to treat indigestion often contain the bases magnesium
oxide or magnesium hydroxide. But what exactly are bases ?

Bases can be defined as a substance which reacts with acids to form salt and water as the only products.

 All metal oxides are bases( magnesium oxide ,calcium oxide ,copper oxide )
 All metal hydroxides are bases ( sodium hydroxide ,calcium hydroxide , copper hydroxide )

 The names of all bases start with the name of a metal and end with the oxide and hydroxide.

Bases are the chemical opposite to acids. Many substances we use at home are bases.

 They will remove the sharp taste from an acid.

 They have a soapy feel.

1
Alkalis ( soluble bases)
If a base is soluble in water , we call it an alkali . Alkalis dissolve in water to form hydroxide ions

Alkalis can be define as substances that produce hydroxide ion (OH-(aq), in water

All bases which are soluble in water are called alkalis

 This special name given to the bases indicates that they are soluble in water.
 All alkalis produces hydroxide ion (OH-)when dissolve in water.

Example

in aqueous solution, sodium hydroxide (NaOH)

(NaOH) ionizes (separates into positive charged and negative charged ions )as follows and contributes to
raise the OH- ion concentration.

NaOH (aq) Na+ (aq) + OH- (aq)

Sodium hydroxide sodium ion hydroxide ion

strong alkalis

The alkalis that completely ionize ( as above) in aqueous solution (in water) are called strong alkali.
Examples for some strong bases and how they ionise in aqueous solution are given
below

Name of the strong alkali chemical formula

• Sodium hydroxide NaOH

* Potassium hydroxide KOH

Some strong alkalis that are used frequently in the laboratory are given below

2
Weak alkalis

The alkalis which partially ionise in aqueous solution are known as weak alkalis
.
Ex : Ammonium hydroxide (Ammonia solution) (NH4 OH)

 All alkalis are bases

 But not all bases are alkalis

Common alkalis substances

Look at the diagrams below they are alkalis substances found at home.

Baking soda Washing soda Milk of magnesia

Soap Over cleaner Glass cleaner

3
Look at the diagrams below they are bases and alkalis found in the laboratory.

Sodium hydroxide Potassium hydroxide Calcium hydroxide

(Lime water )

ammonia Copper oxide Magnesium oxide

Properties of alkalis / Bases

1 .They have a slimy texture as in soap. Caution : Do not touch bases in the laboratory.

2.Tturn red litmus blue.

3. Bases contain

oxide ions hydroxide ion

4
4.’ Bases neutralise acids

a. Metal oxides react with acids to form …salts……………… and ……water……………

For example

Metal oxide + acid salt + water

Example

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

( black colour) (blue colour)

b.Metal hydroxide react with acids to form …salt……………… and … water………………

For example,

Sodium hydroxide + hydrochloric acid → sodium chloride + water

This reaction is called…neutralisation……………….

When the acid reacts completely with the alkali we say it has neutral

5
Neutralisation

You have studied the fact that when acids react with alkali ( bases), salts and water are produced. Let's
consider the reaction between hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide again.

Hydrochloric acid + sodium hydroxide sodium chloride + water

HCl (aq) + NaOH (aq) NaCl (aq) + H2O (l)

Let's investigate how water was formed as a product in the above reaction. The H+ ions released by the
ionisation of the acid combine with the OH- ions given by the ionisation of the alkali (base )to form water
molecules. it can be represented by a chemical equation as follows.

H+ (aq) + OH- (aq) H2O (l)

In all acid - base reactions, the above common reaction occurs. This process is known as neutralisation.

Neutralisation is the combination of H+ ions released by an acid with OH- ions

released by a base to form water molecules.

Hence, when an acid reacts with a base their acidic properties as well as the basic properties disappear.

Applications of the acid - base neutralization reactions

1.Milk of magnesia or such an antacid (a weak base) is used to neutralise the acidity in the stomach.

2.Basic substances such as ash and quicklime (calcium oxide) are added to soil to reduce soil acidity.

3. Bee sting is painful because of an acidic poisonous substance injected into the skin. By applying a weak
basic substance such as baking soda (NaHCO3) or calcium carbonate (CaCO3) on the place of the sting, the
pain is relieved.

4. Wasp sting is basic. Application of a weak, dilute acid such as lime juice or vinegar on the place of sting
reduces the venomous nature as well as the pain.

6
Uses Alkalis in everyday life

Sodium hydroxide is used in the manufacture of

Soap paper Fibres like nylon, Medicines

rayon

Calcium hydroxide is used in the manufacture of

Mortar in building Bleaching powder Neutralisation of acidic soils

Magnesium hydroxide and aluminium hydroxide is used as antacids for relieving acidity in the stomach

Uses of some bases

• Sodium hydroxide

i. Production of soap, paper, artificial silk and paints

ii. Used in the laboratory as a strong base

iii. Refining petroleum products

• Magnesium hydroxide

I Magnesium hydroxide suspension (milk of magnesia) is used as an antacid to

relieve gastritis (acidity in stomach)

ii. Purification of molasses in sugar industry

7
summary questions

 Answer all questions in the spaces provided on the question paper.

For the multiple choice questions, circle only the letter A, B, C or D which corresponds to the

correct answer

Multiple choice

Q1. Which of the following contains only alkalis ?

A. Soap, salt and vinegar

B. Salt, vinegar, and bleach

C. Tooth paste, bleach and soap

D. Lemonade, vinegar and soap

Q2. Alkalis substances

A .turns blue litmus red .

B .have a sour taste

C .have a soapy feel

D .react with metals to produce hydrogen gas

Q3.The different between a base an alkali is that

A .An alkali tastes different from the base

B .An alkali is soluble in water but base does not have to

C .An alkali turns a litmus paper yellow

D .An alkali turns litmus paper red.

Q 4. The reaction of acid and alkali is called

A . Rusting

B . Neutralisation

C .Combustion

D .Chlorination

8
Q4. (a) Copper and Magnesium are two typical metals that show similar physical properties.
They both conduct electricity. Copper can be used in electrical wiring because it is ductile.

Copper Magnesium

(i) What is meant by the term ductile?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………..............................................................
[1mark]

(ii) State two other physical properties of metals.

1. ………………………………………………………………………………………

..…...............................................................................................................

[1mark]

2. …………………………………………………………………………………..…

……................................................................................................................

[1mark]

(iii) For one of the properties you mentioned in part (ii), state how this property is useful in our
everyday life.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………...................................................................
.[1mark]

9
(b) A piece of magnesium metal is put in a test tube with dilute hydrochloric acid.

(i) What would you observe when magnesium reacts with the dilute hydrochloric acid?

.......................................................................................................................................…………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………….....................................................
[2marks]

(ii) Write the word equation for the reaction between magnesium and dilute hydrochloric acid.

…………………………………………………………………………………………

...........................................................................................................................

[2marks]

(ii) One of the products of the reaction between magnesium and dilute hydrochloric acid is a salt.
What is the chemical name of this salt?

……………………………………………………………………...........................

[1mark]

(iv) Name one other metal which reacts in a similar way to magnesium when
added to dilute hydrochloric acid.

..........................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................

[1mark]

10
Q4. (b) Four bottles contain aqueous solutions, P, Q, R and S.

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

(ii) Which one of these solutions contains sodium hydroxide ?.............................. [1 ]

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

solution ………………………… and solution ………………………… [1 ]

(iv) (IV) Which one of these solutions contains ammonia ?.............................. [1 ]

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

[2]

11