Study of Acids, Bases and Salts 1

TOPIC 1
ACIDS AND BASES

Acids
The term ‘acid’ is derived from the Latin word acidus meaning ‘sour’.

Definition
The compounds which possess one or more H-atoms and when dissolved in water
produces hydronium ions (H3O+) are called acids.

Related Theory
 At first, H+ is furnished by acid molecule when it is dissolved in water but this H+ ion cannot exist
independently, so it combines with water and produces H3O+ ions which can exists independently in
solution.
E.g. HCl, H2SO4, HNO3, CH3COOH, etc.
HO
HCl 
2
→ H+ + Cl–

H+ + H2O → H3O+
Example 1. Name the positive ion formed when an acid is dissolved in water.
Ans. Hydronium ion.
Important
 Hydrogen is common in all acids.
Classification of Acids
ACIDS

On the basis of their On the basis of their

sources basicity

Organic Inorganic Monobasic Dibasic Tribasic

acids acids acids acids acids

(1) Organic Acids

These acids are obtained usually from plants. They are organic compounds with
acidic properties.
E.g., Acetic acid (CH3COOH)
Formic acid (HCOOH), etc.

Characteristics of Organic Acids

(1) They are weak acids.
(2) They do not ionise completely in solution.
(3) They contain ions as well as molecules.

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(2) Inorganic Acids
These acids are obtained usually from minerals. They are also known as mineral
acids. They are not organic compounds.
E.g., Hydrochloric acid (HCl)
Sulphuric acid (H2SO4)
Carbonic acid (H2CO3)

Characteristics of Inorganic Acids

(1) They are strong acids.
(2) They ionise completely in solution.
(3) They contain only ions.
Important
 Carbonic acid (H2CO3) is a weak mineral acid which contain ions as well as molecules. It is also an
inorganic acid which contains carbon. It turns blue litmus to pink. It is non-corrosive in nature. So, it is
used in soft drinks.

Example 2. Give an example of acid which contains ions as well as molecules.

Ans. Carbonic acid (H2CO3), because it is a weak acid.
Example 3. Give an example of weak mineral acid.
Ans. Carbonic acid (H2CO3) or formic acid (HCOOH).
Example 4. Give an example of a hydrogen containing compound which is not
an acid.
Ans. Methane (CH4)

Oxy acids
These acids contain oxygen along with hydrogen and some other element.
E.g., HNO3, H2SO4, etc.
Example 5. G  ive two examples of oxyacids.
Ans. Sulphuric acid (H2SO4)
Nitric acid (HNO3)

Hydracids
These acids contain hydrogen and a non-metallic element. They do not possess
oxygen.
Example 6. G ive two examples of hydracid.
Ans. Hydrochloric acid (HCl)
Hydroiodic acid (HI)

(2) Basicity
The number of hydronium ions (H3O+) that can be formed by the ionisation of one
molecule of acid in aqueous solution is known as its basicity.

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(3) Monobasic Acids
These acids produce one hydronium ion (H3O+) per molecule of the acid on
ionisation in water. These acids contain one replaceable hydrogen ion.
E.g., HCl (Hydrochloric acid)
HCl + H2O  H3O+ + Cl– (Ionise in one step)

(4) Dibasic Acids

These acids produce two hydronium ions (H3O+) per molecule of the acid on
ionisation in water. These acids contain two replaceable hydrogen ions.
E.g., H2SO4 (Sulphuric acid)
H2SO4 + H2O  H3O+ + HSO4– Ionise in two steps
HSO4– + H2O  H3O + +
SO42–

(5) Tribasic Acids

These acids produce three hydronium ions (H3O+) per molecule of the acid on
ionisation in water. These acids contain three replaceable hydrogen ions.
E.g., H3PO4 (Phosphoric acid)
H3PO4 + H2O  H3O+ + H2PO4– Ionise in
H2PO4– + H2O  H3O + +
HPO42– three
steps
HPO42– + H2O  H3O+ + PO43–

Caution
 H3PO3 is a dibasic acid because H-atom which is directly bonded to P-atom is not replaceable.
O
P
H
HO Not
OH replaceable

Example 7. W
 hat is the basicity of phosphoric acid?
Ans. Phosphoric acid (H3PO4)
O
P OH
HO
OH
Since, phosphoric acid contains three replaceable H+ ions. So, it is a tribasic
acid.
Related Theory
 The basicity of Silicic acid (H4SiO4) is 4.
Example 8. H
 ow many replaceable hydrogen ions are present in sulphuric acid?
Ans. Sulphuric acid = H2SO4
\ Number of replaceable H+ ions = 2
Example 9. Write the ionisation of hydrochloric acid showing the formation of
hydronium ion.

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Ans. HCl + H2O  H3O+ + Cl–
Hydrochloric Hydronium Chloride
acid ion ion
Important
 Dibasic acids can form one acid salt or one normal salt.
E.g.,
H2SO4 + NaOH → NaHSO4 + H2O
(acid salt)
H2SO4 + 2NaOH → Na2SO4 + 2H2O
(normal salt)
 Tribasic acids can form two different acid salts or one normal salt.
E.g.,
H3PO4 + NaOH → NaH2PO4 + H2O
(acid salt)
H3PO4 + 2NaOH → Na2HPO4 + 2H2O
(acid salt)
H3PO4 + 3NaOH → Na3PO4 + 3H2O
(normal salt)

l
l
l

OBJECTIVE Type Questions

Multiple Choice Questions
[ 1 mark each ]

1. To increase the pH value of a neutral solution, we should add:

(a) an acid (b) an acid salt
(c) an alkali (d) a salt  [ICSE 2017]
Ans. (c) an alkali. [Marking Scheme]

Study of Acids, Bases and Salts 5

 Explanation: The pH value of a neutral solution is 7. The pH of less than 7
represents acidic nature whereas pH of more than 7 represents the alkaline
nature. Therefore, to reduce the pH of solution acid is added to it and to
increase the pH value of a neutral solution, we should add an alkali to it.

What Examiners Say

 Most candidates answered correctly. A few candidates selected an acid or an acid salt
indicating that they did not understand the relation between acidity or alkalinity with the pH
of the solution.

Caution
 Students must understand pH scale to test for acidity, neutrality and alkalinity in detail.

Related Theory
 The pH of a solution is the negative logarithm to the base 10 of the H+ ion concentration.

2. Which of the following is a tribasic acid?

(a) H2SO4 (b) Al(OH)3
(c) H3PO4 (d) Ca(OH)2
Ans. (c) H3PO4.
Explanation: H3PO4 is a tribasic acid because it contains three replaceable H+
ions.
O
P OH
HO
OH

3. An acid which has two replaceable hydrogen ions:

(a) Acetic acid
(b) Hydrochloric acid
(c) Phosphoric acid
(d) Carbonic acid [ICSE Specimen-2022]
Ans. (d) Carbonic acid
Explanation: Out of the given acids, carbonic acid (H2CO3) is a dibasic acid.
Hence, it has two replaceable hydrogen ions.

Assertion Reason Based Questions

[A-R] [ 2 marks each ]

In each of the following questions, a statement of Assertion (A) is given followed

by a corresponding statement of Reason (R). Select the correct answers to
codes (a), (b), (c) or (d) as given below:

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 (a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(b) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(c) (A) is true but (R) is false.
(d) Both (A) and (R) are false.

4. Assertion (A): When H2SO4 is added in phenolphthalein solution, the colour

of phenolphthalein solution remains unchanged.
Reason (R): Phenolphthalein solution remains colourless even after the
action of acid.
Ans. (c) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
Explanation: Acid has no effect on the phenolphthalein solution while a base
changes the colour of phenolphthalein solution from colourless to pink.

Case Based Questions

[Other Question Types, For Extra Practice] [ 5 marks each ]

5. Acid rain is by-product of a variety of human activities that releases oxides of

sulphur and nitrogen in the atmosphere. Burning of fossil fuels, coal, air, petrol
and diesel produce sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide. They all pollute air.
Polluted air also contains many oxidising agents which produces oxygen due
to excessive heat. This oxygen further combines with the oxides of sulphur and
nitrogen. When it rains, oxides of sulphur and nitrogen react with rainwater and
forms acids.
2 SO2 + O2 + 2H2O → 2H2SO4
4 NO2 + O2 + 2H2O → 4HNO3
Sulphuric acid and nitric acid formed are washed down to earth with water.
This is known as acid rain.
Based on the above passage, answer the following questions:
(A) What is the basicity of sulphuric acid?
(a) 1 (b) 2
(c) 3 (d) 0

(B) What is the effect of acid rain on the soil?

(a) It causes soil erosion.
(b) It increases the soil fertility.
(c) It removes the basic nutrients from the soil.
(d) None of these

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 (C) What is the reason behind the change in colour of Taj Mahal?
(a) Increase of tourists
(b) Acid rain
(c) Deforestation
(d) Corrosion
(D) Which compound is added to the soil to minimise the effects of acid
rain?
(a) Calcium carbonate
(b) Hydrochloric acid
(c) Sulphuric acid
(d) Ammonium hydroxide
Ans. (A) (b) 2
Explanation: The basicity of sulphuric acid (H2SO4) is 2 as it can release
two hydrogen ions in the aqueous solution.
(B) (c) It removes the basic nutrients from the soil.
Explanation: Acid rain removes the basic nutrient such as calcium from
the soil.
(C) (b) Acid rain
Explanation: Taj Mahal is made up of marble which is further made up of
calcium carbonate.
Calcium carbonate, which is white in colour, gets changed into calcium
sulphate on the action of acid rain.
CaCO3 + H2SO4 → CaSO4 + H2O + CO2
(D) (b) Ammonium hydroxide
Explanation: The soil becomes acidic after the acid rain. Ammonium
hydroxide is basic in nature. So, it is added in the soil to neutralise the effect
of acid rain.

SUBJECTIVE Type Questions

Fill in the Blanks

 [ 1 mark each ]

6. The basicity of acetic acid is .............. (3, 1, 4).  [ICSE 2014]

Ans. 1
Explanation: Acetic acid contains one replaceable H+ ion, so, its basicity is 1.
CH3 COOH  CH3COO– + H+

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 What Examiners Say
 Majority of candidates wrote the correct answer but some wrote 2 in place of 1.

State Relevant Observations

[ 1 mark each ]

7. Barium chloride solution is slowly added to sodium sulphate solution.

[ICSE 2018, 16]

Ans. A white precipitate is formed. [Marking Scheme]

What Examiners Say

 Most candidates answered correctly. However, a few candidates identified the product BaSO4
but missed out the word precipitate or the colour white.

Caution
 Students should be specific in giving answer as per requirement of the question in writing the
correct precipitate instead of giving all products.

Define the Following

[ 1 mark each ]

8. A salt formed by complete replacement of the ionisable hydrogen atoms of

an acid by a metallic ion. [HOT ]
Ans. Normal salt

Related Theory
 NaCl, KCl, FeO, Na2SO4, etc, are normal salts.

Short Answer Type-I Questions

[SA-I] [ 2 marks each ]

9. A reaction in which an acid and a base react quantitatively with each other
is known as neutralisation reaction. In this reaction, acid react with base
to form salt and water. For example, hydrochloric acid reacts with sodium
hydroxide to form sodium chloride (a salt) and water.
On the basis of above property, answer the following questions:
(A) Why people suffering from acidity are advised to drink milk of
magnesia?
(c) Why it is advised to rub baking soda on the area affected by bee stung?

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Ans. (A) When a person is suffering from acidity, it means the concentration of
acid is increased than the normal in his/her stomach. So, milk of magnesia
Mg (OH)2, being basic in nature neutralises the extra acid present in the
stomach. Basically, it adjusts the pH of the stomach. Hence, it is advised to
drink milk of magnesia if a person is suffering from acidity.
(B) Bee stung contains formic acid. So, to neutralise the effect of formic acid,
baking soda (a base) is applied on the affected area.

Short Answer Type-II Questions

[SA-II] [ 3 marks each ]

10. Differentiate the following:

(A) Acid salt and Basic salt
(B) Acid and Base
(C) Strong alkali and Weak alkali [HOT ]
Ans. (A) Acid salt Basic salt
It is obtained by the partial It is obtained by the partial
replacement of the ionisable replacement of the –OH group of a
hydrogen atoms of a polybasic acid polyacidic base by an acid radical.
by a metal.
E.g., NaHSO4 E.g., Mg(OH)Cl

(B) Acid Base

It contains one or more H-atoms
and produces H3O+ ions when
dissolved in water.
E.g., H2SO4
It is either a metallic oxide or
hydroxide or ammonium hydroxide
which reacts with H3O+ ions of an
acid to form salt and water only.
E.g., NaOH

(C) Strong alkali Weak alkali

It dissociates almost completely in It dissociates partially in aqueous
aqueous solution to produce OH– solution to produce OH– ions in low
ions in high concentration. concentration.
E.g., NaOH E.g., Ca(OH)2

Long Answer Type-I Questions

[LA-I] [ 4 marks each ]

11. Acids are sour in taste while bases are bitter in taste. When an acid reacts
with a base, salt and water are produced. This is known as neutralisation

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 reaction. Sometimes, when a salt is added to an acidic solution, a
precipitate is formed.
(A) Why limewater tastes bitter but the taste of lime juice is sour?
(B) What happens when barium chloride solution is added to dilute
sulphuric acid?
(C) Name two salts whose aqueous solution on mixing will form a
precipitate of silver chloride.
Ans. (A) A lime juice is acidic in nature, hence it is sour in taste, while, limewater is
alkaline in nature, and so, it tastes bitter.
(B) When barium chloride solution is added to dilute sulphuric acid, a white
precipitate of barium sulphate is formed.
BaCl2 + dil. H2SO4 → BASO4 ↓ (white) + HCl
(C) Sodium choride and silver nitrate.

Study of Acids, Bases and Salts 11

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