Chapter 10:

Acids and Bases

 Overview
• Examples of acids
• Definition of an acid
• Physical Properties of acids
• Chemical Properties of acids
• The role of water in acidity
Where does term “acid” comes from ???

• The term “Acid” comes from the Latin root :

Ac- sharp
• The term “Acid” comes from the Latin word :

Acidus sour
• Acidic molecules
might have sharp
corners or spine-
like projections.
 2 Categories of Acid

Acids

Organic Mineral

(i) Organic compound (i) An acid derived by

with acidic properties. chemical reaction from
inorganic minerals.

(ii) Weak Acids (ii) Range from acids of

great strength to very
weak ones.

(iii) Many can be found (iii) Many can be found

in daily foods to give in labs and industries.
the “sour” taste.
 Organic Acids

Malic Acid Tartaric

Ethanoic Acid Acid

Citric Acid
 Mineral Acids
Phosphoric acid Hydrochloric acid

Carbonated Remove Paint Fertilizers

beverages Rust
Gasoline Nitric acid
additives Boric acid
Sulfuric acid
Dye
Sulfuric acid
Insecticide Car Battery
Some common acids and their ions
Name of Ions produced in
Formula
acid aqueous solution
Hydrochloric Cl –
HCl H+
acid Chloride ion

NO3 –
Nitric acid HNO3 H+ Nitrate ion

Sulphuric SO4 2-
H2SO4 H+
acid Sulfate ion

Ethanoic CH3COO -
CH3COOH H+
acid
All acids contain/
Can you spot the similarity
between the acids?
produce hydrogen
ions, H+.
What is responsible for the acidic properties ?

Acid in Hydrogen Non-Metal

aqueous Ion Ion
solution

HCl (aq) H+ (aq) Cl- (aq)

HNO3 (aq) H+ (aq) NO3- (aq)

H2SO4 (aq) 2H+ (aq) SO42- (aq)

The H+ ions are responsible for the

acidic properties of acids
 Definition of acid
• An acid is a substance which produces
hydrogen ions, H+ , when it is dissolved in
water. + H2O Non-metal ions
H
Take note…
• Not all substances that contain hydrogen are acids.

Ammonia Methane

NH3 CH4

Not Acids !!!

Physical Properties of Acids
• Acids have a sour taste.

• Acids dissolve in water to form

solutions that can conduct electricity.
Reason: the free moving ions can carry
electricity.
Sulphuric acid
Car Battery

Citric Acid
Chemical Properties of Acids

1.Acids turn blue litmus paper red.

2.Reaction with metals
3.Reaction with carbonates
4.Reaction with metal oxides / metal
hydroxides
 Litmus Paper

Blue Litmus turns red Red Litmus stays red

Dil. Acid Dil. Acid

 2. Reaction with Metal
• Acids react with reactive metals to form
hydrogen gas and a salt.
• The general equation is:

metal + acid 🡪 salt + hydrogen

• Test for hydrogen gas:

– Insert a lighted splint near the mouth of
the test tube. Hydrogen gas burns with a
pop sound.
 2. Reaction with Metal
Existence of H+ ion

“Pop”!

B Burning
Wooden
Splint C

Magnesium
Ribbon

A Dilute Acid
HCl (aq)
Diagram for Test of Hydrogen Gas
Test for Hydrogen gas:
Insert a lighted splint near the mouth of the
test tube. Hydrogen burns with a pop sound.
 2. Reaction with Metal
• Example:

Magnesium ribbon is added to an aqueous

solution of dilute sulphuric acid. Write the
chemical equation of the reaction.
Chemical equation:
Mg (s) + H2SO4 (aq) 🡪 MgSO4 (aq) + H2 (g)
Word equation:
Magnesium + Sulfuric acid 🡪 Magnesium sulfate + Hydrogen
 1. Reaction with Metal
• Not all metals react with acids
– Inactive metals such as copper and
silver do not react with dilute acid.
– You can determine if a metal is reactive or

not by checking the metal’s position in the

reactivity series.

– The higher up in the reactivity series, the

The Reactivity Series
Activity Metal Symbol Memory aid
Potassium K King
Most Sodium Na Nathan
reactive
Calcium Ca Can
Magnesium Mg Make
Aluminium Al Aeroplanes
Zinc Zn Memory
Zoom
Iron Fe Aid
From
Tin Sn Singapore
Lead Pb Pass
Hydrogen H Holland
Least
reactive Copper Cu 3rd
Silver Ag 2nd
Gold Au 1st
 2. Reaction with Metal
• Lead does not appear to react with
dilute hydrochloric acid and dilute
sulphuric acid.
– This is because a layer of lead (II)
chloride or lead (II) sulphate
produced during the initial reaction,
forms a layer around the metal.
– This layer is insoluble in water and
prevents any contact with the acid.
Why lead does not seem to react with acids.

Hydrochloric acid

Layer of
Lead
lead (II) chloride
3. Reaction with Carbonates
• Acids react with carbonates to produce a
salt, carbon dioxide and water.
• The general equation is:
carbonate + acid 🡪 salt + water +
carbon dioxide
Test for Carbon Dioxide
• The gas is bubbled into lime water.
• Carbon dioxide forms white
precipitate with lime water.
3. Reaction with Carbonates
• Example:
Sodium carbonate reacts with dilute
hydrochloric acid to produce sodium
chloride, water and carbon dioxide.
Write a balanced chemical equation of
this reaction.

Na2CO3 (s) + 2 HCl (aq)🡪 2 NaCl (aq) + H2O (l)

+ CO2 (g)
4. Reaction with Metal Oxides
• Acid reacts with metal oxides to
produce salt and water.
• The general equation is:

metal oxide + acid 🡪 salt + water

Name of reaction: Neutralisation

• Example: Zinc oxide reacts with
dilute sulphuric acid to form zinc
sulphate and water. Write a
balanced chemical equation of the
reaction.

ZnO (s) + H2SO4 (aq) 🡪 ZnSO4 (aq) +

H2O (l)
4. Reaction with Metal Hydroxides
• Acid reacts with metal hydroxides
to produce salt and water.
• The general equation is:

metal hydroxide + acid 🡪 salt + water

3. Reaction with Metal Hydroxides

• Example: Sodium hydroxide reacts

with dilute nitric acid to produce
sodium nitrate and water. Write a
balanced chemical equation of the
reaction.

NaOH (aq) + HNO3 (aq) 🡪 NaNO3 (aq) +

H2O (l)
 The Role of Water in Acidity
• Presence of water is important in the
formation of hydrogen ions.
• In the absence of water, acid will not
exhibit any acidity.

Cl H+ Cl-
H

H Cl Cl- H+

Hydrogen chloride in alcohol

Hydrogen chloride in water
(an organic solvent)
 The Role of Water in Acidity
• Hydrogen chloride can exists in two
forms:
– When it is placed in organic solvents,
hydrogen chloride exists as a
covalent molecule. Therefore, it does
not behave like an acid.
– When it is dissolved in water, it
dissociates into H+ and Cl- ions.
Summary
• An acid is a substance which produces
____________
hydrogen ions when dissolved in
water.
• The main properties of acids:
– It has a _________
sour taste.
– It dissolves in water to form solutions that
________
can conduct electricity.
– It turns ________
blue litmus _________.
red
Summary (ii)
• Reactions of Acids
– Reactive Metal + Acid 🡪 __________
salt +
___________
hydrogen
– Carbonate + Acid 🡪 _________
salt +
_______________
Carbon dioxide + ________
water
– Metal oxide + Acid 🡪 ___________
salt +
__________
water
– Metal hydroxide + Acid 🡪 __________
salt +
___________
water
Please complete the practice questions on Page 3 of your Handout

PRACTICE TIME
Thank you...
Chapter 10: Bases
Last lesson...
• Acids
– Physical properties of an acid
– Chemical properties of an acid
•Litmus Paper
•Metal + Acid
•Carbonate + Acid
•Metal oxide/hydroxide + Acid
Today’s lesson...
• Bases
– Definition of a base
– A special class of base: Alkalis
• Physical Properties of Alkalis
• Chemical Properties of Alkalis
What are bases?
• A base is a metal oxide or hydroxide.
• This means that a base contains either
oxide ions or hydroxide ions.

O 2-
OH -
• Example: magnesium oxide (MgO),
sodium hydroxide (NaOH)
What are bases?
• Bases are also defined as substances
that react with acids to give salt and
water only.
• For example:
sodium oxide + hydrochloric acid
🡪 sodium chloride + water

Na2O (s) + 2HCl (aq) 🡪 2NaCl (aq) + H2O (l)

What are bases?
• For example:
sodium hydroxide + hydrochloric acid
🡪 sodium chloride + water

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

Alkalis: A Special Class of Bases
• Some bases are soluble in water
while others are not.
• Bases that are
soluble in
water are Alkalis
called
ALKALIS.
Bases
Alkalis: A Special Class of Bases
• All alkalis are bases but not all
bases are alkalis.
• For example:
Insoluble bases are not alkalis.
Chemical Name Formula

Copper (II) oxide CuO

Magnesium oxide MgO

Alkalis: A Special Class of Bases
• Soluble bases are alkalis.
For example:
Chemical Name Formula

Sodium hydroxide NaOH

Calcium hydroxide Ca(OH)2

(limewater)

Aqueous ammonia NH3

Alkalis: A Special Class of Bases
• Therefore, by definition, an alkali is
a substance that produces
hydroxide ions, OH-, in water.

• Some alkalis such as NaOH and

Ca(OH)2 already have the hydroxide
ions in their formulae.
Alkalis: A Special Class of Bases
• Other alkalis such as ammonia, only
produce the ions when dissolved in
water.

NH3 (g) + H2O (l) 🡪 NH4+ (aq) + OH- (aq)

Properties of alkalis
• Alkalis have a bitter taste and
soapy feel.
• Alkalis may be hazardous.
– Dilute solutions of alkalis may irritate
skin.
– Concentrated solutions of alkalis are
corrosive and burns skin.
Chemical Properties of Alkalis
• Alkalis turn red litmus paper blue.

Red Litmus turns Blue Blue Litmus stays blue

Alkali Alkali
Chemical Properties of Alkalis
• All alkalis react with acids to form ONLY
salt and water.
• This reaction is known as neutralisation.

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

• In this reaction, the hydroxide ions from

alkalis and the hydrogen ions from acids
react to form water.
Chemical Properties of Alkalis
• Alkalis heated with ammonium salts
give off ammonia gas.

• The general equation for this reaction is

warm

ammonium salt + alkali 🡪salt + ammonia

gas + water
Heating ammonium chloride with NaOH
Chemical Properties of Alkalis
• For example: Reaction of ammonium
chloride and calcium hydroxide

Calcium hydroxide + ammonium chloride 🡪

calcium chloride + water + ammonia
warm

warm

Ca(OH)2 (aq) + NH4Cl (s) 🡪 CaCl2 (aq) +

2 H2O (l) + 2 NH3 (g)
Chemical Properties of Alkalis
• Practice example: Reaction of
ammonium sulphate and potassium
hydroxide

ammonium sulphate + potassium

hydroxide 🡪 potassium sulphate + water
+ ammonia

(NH4)2SO4 (s) + 2 KOH (aq) 🡪 K2SO4 (aq) + 2

NH3 (g) + 2 H2O (l)
Chemical Properties of Alkalis
• Alkalis react with solutions of metal
ions
– Copper (II) sulphate solution contains
Cu2+ ions.
– When dilute sodium hydroxide is
added, a blue insoluble solid of
copper (II) hydroxide forms.

2 NaOH (aq) + CuSO4 (aq) 🡪 Na2SO4 (aq) +

Cu(OH)2 (s)
Chemical Properties of Alkalis
• The solid formed in this reaction is
called a precipitate and the reaction is
called a precipitate reaction.
• This reaction is also used to test for
presence of other metal ions.
– Fe3+ in iron (III) chloride solution
– Zn2+ in zinc nitrate solution
Uses of alkalis
• Alkalis are used for two main reasons:
1.To neutralise acids
– Gastric pills contain alkalis to neutralise
excess stomach acid produced during
indigestion.

– Toothpaste also contains alkalis to

counteract the acids produced by bacteria
living on our teeth.
Uses of alkalis
• Alkalis are used for two main reasons:
2.To dissolve grease
– Soap and detergents contain mild alkalis
to help remove oily stains.
– Floor and oven cleaners often contain
sodium hydroxide, a strong alkali.
– Tougher oily stains require strong alkali to
remove.
Summary

oxides
• Bases are metal _____________ or
hydroxides
_________________.
alkalis
• Soluble bases are called ____________.
• An alkali is a substance that produces
hydroxide
____________________ ions in water
Summary

Properties of bases:
bitter
• Bases have a ____________ taste and a
slippery
_______________ feel.
red litmus paper
• Bases changes ________
blue
_____________.
neutralise acids to produce
• Bases ____________
salt and water.
Summary

Properties of bases:
• Bases react with ammonium
ammonia
compounds to produce ____________.
• Bases react with metal ions to form
precipitate of metal hydroxides.
_______________
Thank you...
Chapter 10: Indicators
and Metal Oxides
Last lesson...
• Bases
– Definition of a base
– A special class of base: Alkalis
• Physical Properties of Alkalis
• Chemical Properties of Alkalis
Today’s lesson...
• Indicators
– What are they?
• The pH scale
• Measuring pH
• The pH of common substances
• The importance of pH
• Oxides
– Acidic, basic, amphoteric and neutral
Indicators
• An indicator is a substance that has
different colours in acidic and alkaline
solutions.
• One common indicator used in
laboratories is litmus.
– Litmus is extracted
from lichens that
grow on rocks
and trees
Indicators
• Litmus is used to make litmus paper
which we can use to distinguish
between a base and an acid.

Litmus in Litmus in
Acid Base
Indicators
• The table shows some common
indicators found in the laboratory.
Name of Colour in Colour in
indicator acid base
Litmus Red Blue
Screened
Pink Green
methyl orange
Methyl orange Red Yellow
Phenolphthalein Colourless Pink
Indicators
• Many brightly coloured flowers,
vegetables and berries make good
indicators.
• For example, hydrangeas are flowers
that display different colour when
grown in acidic or alkaline soil.
Hydrangea

Grown in acidic soil

Grown in alkaline soil

Indicators
• Many brightly coloured flowers,
vegetables and berries make good
indicators.
• For example, hydrangeas are flowers
that display different colour when
grown in acidic or alkaline soil.
• Another example, purple cabbage juice
changes colour when placed in acidic or
alkaline solutions.
Purple Cabbage Indicator
Purple Cabbage Indicator
• Make your very own indicator at home.
Step 1: Chop up some purple cabbage
Step 2: Add the chopped cabbage into a
blender and add some hot water.
Step 3: Blend the mixture for about 1
minute.
Step 4: Sieve out the cabbage bits and you
will get your very own purple cabbage
indicator.
Purple Cabbage Indicator

DEMONSTRATION
The pH scale
• The pH of a solution is measured by
how acidic or alkaline it is.
• The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14.
The pH scale (ii)
• A pH value of 7 is neutral.
• An example of a solution with pH 7
is pure water.
– This means that pure water is neither
acidic nor alkaline.
The pH scale (iii)
• Water ionises in a small extent.

H20 (l) 🡪 H+ (aq) + OH- (aq)

• The concentration of
H+ ions and OH- ions
present in water are
equal.
The pH scale (iv)
• A solution with pH less than 7 is an
acid.
– This means that the solution contains
a higher concentration of H+ ions
compared to OH- ions.
– The smaller the pH value the greater
the concentration of H+ ions.
The pH scale (v)
• A solution with pH more than 7 is a
base.
– This means that the solution contains
a higher concentration of OH- ions
compared to H+ ions .
– The larger the pH value the greater
the concentration of OH- ions.
Measuring the pH of a solution
• There are three ways to measure the pH
of a solution.
• The first method is to use an Universal
indicator.
– The universal indicator
is a mixture of indicators.
– It can be used in two
forms: paper or solution.
– It gives different colour
at different pH values.
Measuring the pH of a solution
• The second method is to use a pH
meter.
• It can be used to obtain accurate
values.
• The probe is dipped into the solution
and the meter shows the pH either on a
scale or digitally.
Measuring the pH of a solution
• The third method is to use a pH sensor
and a computer.
The pH of common substances
The Importance of pH
• The pH of soil plays an important role in
plant growth.
• In general, most plants grow in weakly
acidic soil.
pH 5 – 6
The Importance of pH
• Orchids prefer more acidic soil of
pH 4 – 5.
The Importance of pH
• Water lilies prefer alkaline soil of
pH 8 – 9.
The Importance of pH
• When rain water mixes with pollutants
in the air, acid rain is formed.
• The acidic rain water lowers the pH of
soil and affects crop growth.
• To reduce the acidity of this soil,
farmers add bases such as calcium
carbonate (lime) or calcium oxide
(quick lime) to the soil.
Chapter 10: Oxides
Oxides
• There are four types of oxides.
1. Acidic oxides
2. Basic oxides
3. Amphoteric oxides
4. Neutral oxides
1. Acidic Oxides
• Acidic oxides are oxides of non-metals.
• They react with water and produce
acids.
• For example: Reaction of sulphur
dioxide with water to form sulphurous
acid

SO2 (g) + H2O (l) 🡪 H2SO3 (aq)

1. Acidic oxides
• More examples of acidic oxides and the
acids they form.
Acid produced in
Acidic oxide Formula
water
Sulphuric acid
Sulphur dioxide SO2
(H2SO4)
Carbonic acid
Carbon dioxide CO2
(H2CO3)
Phosphorous (III) P4 O6 , Phosphoric acid
oxide, Phosphorous (H3PO4)
P4O10
(V) oxide
1. Acidic oxides
• Acidic oxides react with alkalis to form
salt and water.
• For example: Reaction of carbon dioxide
and sodium hydroxide

CO2 (g) + 2 NaOH (aq) 🡪 Na2CO3 (aq) + H2O (l)

2. Basic Oxides
• Basic oxides are oxides of metals. They
can behave as bases.
• Example: calcium oxide, CaO,
magnesium oxide, MgO and copper (II)
oxide, CuO.
• They react with acids to form salts and
water. (Neutralisation)
3. Amphoteric oxides
• Some metallic oxides are amphoteric.
They can behave as an acid or a base.

• Examples: aluminum oxide, Al2O3, lead

(II) oxide, PbO, and zinc oxide, ZnO.

• Amphoteric oxides react with both

acids and alkalis to form salt and water.
3. Amphoteric Oxides
• For example, aluminum oxide acts like a
base when it reacts with hydrochloric
acid.
Aluminum oxide + hydrochloric acid
🡪 aluminum chloride + water

• However, it acts like an acid when it

reacts with sodium hydroxide.
Aluminium oxide + sodium hydroxide
🡪 sodium aluminate + water
4. Neutral Oxides
• Neutral oxides do not react with either
acids or bases.
• Examples: water, H2O, carbon
monoxide, CO and nitrogen monoxide,
NO.
Summary
• An indicator is a substance that has
colours
different ______________ in acidic and
alkaline solutions.

• The pH is a measure of how

acidic
_____________ alkaline
or _____________ a
solution is.

• If the pH of a solution is LESS than 7,

the solution is _______________.
acidic
Summary
• If the pH of a solution is MORE than 7,
alkaline
the solution is _______________.

• If te pH of a solution is 7, the solution is

neutral
________________.

• The Universal Indicator is a __________

mixture
of indicators used to measure the pH of
a solution.
Summary
• There are four types of oxides.
1. Acidic oxides
2. Basic oxides
3. Amphoteric oxides
4. Neutral oxides
Homework
Chemistry WORKBOOK
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