5.

5 Acids and alkalis

Learning Objectives:
● learn about the properties of acids and alkalis
● learn how to work safely with acids and alkalis
● find out about hazard symbols.
Key words
acid
alkalis
corrosive
flammable
harmful
irritate
oxidising
toxic
 Acids are everywhere

Acid

Strong Acid Weak acid

Vinegar – weak ethanoic acid(acetic acid)

Eg: Sulphuric acid (H2SO4),
Hydrochloric acid (HCl),
Nitric acid (HNO3)
Lemon juice – citric acid and some ascorbic acid
Any citrus fruit – citric acid and some ascorbic acid
Most other fruits – citric acid, possibly tartaric, oxalic,
or malic acid
Carbonated soda – phosphoric, carbonic, and sometimes
citric acid
Acids:
● Corrosive
○ dissolve the skin
○ cause a chemical burn
○ use eye protection when using acids.
● Acids can be diluted with water.
○ makes them less dangerous
○ still harmful
○ Irritate skin and eyes
● If you spill acid, wash the area with lots of water.
 Alkalis are everywhere

Alkalis

Strong alkali Weak alkali

Eg: Sodium hydroxide Eg: Ammonium hydroxide

Potassium hydroxide Calcium hydroxide
Alkalis
● dangerous
● corrosive
● strong alkali dissolves your skin
● feels soapy to touch
● causes a chemical burn.
● wear eye protection when using alkalis
● Alkalis can be diluted with water.
● This makes them less dangerous.
Acids and alkalis are chemical opposites.

They cancel each other out when they are mixed together.

The acidity or alkalinity of a substance is a chemical property of that substance.

Working safely with acids and alkalis
When you handle chemicals you should:

• stand up to work, so that if you spill something it does not spill onto you

• wear safety glasses, so nothing gets into your eyes

• take the top of the bottle and place it upside down on the work surface, so that it
does not get acid onto the surface or dirt into the acid

• replace the bottle top as soon as you have finished using the bottle. This
prevents spills and reduces the risk of replacing the wrong top on the wrong bottle.
Hazard warning labels
5.6 Indicators and the pH scale
Learning objectives:
● learn how to tell an acid from an alkali
● learn how to make and use indicators
● use the pH scale to find out more about acids and alkalis.
Key words

● indicator
● litmus
● neutral
● pH scale
● universal indicator
Indicator
An indicator turns one colour in an acid and a different colour in an alkali.

Eg:

Red cabbage water

Methyl orange - red in acid and yellow in alkali

Phenolphthalein - colourless in acid and red in alkali

Litmus solution - It turns red in acids, blue in alkalis and purple is in a neutral
substance.

Litmus paper - Blue paper turns red in acid and red paper turns blue in alkali.

Universal indicator - pH meter/scale/paper

pH scale