ACIDS, BASES AND SALTS

Unit #11
Sub unit :11.1-11.2
Acids and alkalis

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 Learning outcomes
7.1 The characteristic properties of acids and bases
Candidates should be able to:
• (a) describe the meanings of the terms acid and alkali in terms of the ions they contain or produce in
aqueous solution and their effects on Universal Indicator paper

• (b) describe how to test hydrogen ion concentration and hence relative acidity using Universal Indicator
paper and the pH scale

• (c) describe the characteristic properties of acids as in reactions with metals, bases and carbonates
• (d) describe qualitatively the difference between strong and weak acids in terms of the extent of dissociation
• (e) describe neutralisation as a reaction between hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions to produce water
H+ + OH– → H2O

• (f) describe the importance of controlling the pH in soils and how excess acidity can be treated using
• calcium hydroxide

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(g) describe the characteristic properties of bases in reactions with acids and with ammonium salts
What is an acid?

What do you know about acids?

Are all acids dangerous?

What is an acid?
Acids are soluble chemicals containing hydrogen.
Acids dissolve in water, to produce positive hydrogen
ions (H+ (aq)).

The word ‘aqueous’, written as ‘aq’

in symbol equations, indicates that
a chemical is dissolved in water.

Hydrochloric acid dissolves in water

to produce two ions:

HCl (aq)  H+ (aq) + Cl- (aq)

When dissolved, the acid produces a hydrogen ion. This

ion is very important in the reactions of acids.
What is a strong acid?
Some acids, like those found in the laboratory or a car battery, are too
dangerous to taste or touch.

These acids are said to be

corrosive as they can damage
other materials by wearing
them away.

These are strong acids.

What safety precautions should you take when handling a strong acid?
Strong acids
Acids can be strong or weak.

Strong acids dissociate fully into solution, so that all their

H+ ions are released into the mixture.

HA H+ + A–

Hydrochloric acid is a typical strong acid,

so the dissociation reaction is complete:

HCl H+ + Cl–
What is a weak acid?
Some acids are found in everyday items such as food and drink, and skincare
products.

It is safe to handle these acids, and in some cases even to taste them! These
acids are known as weak acids.
Weak acids
Weak acids do not dissociate fully, some of their H+ ions stay attached to the acid
molecule.

The dissociation of a weak acid in

water is a reversible reaction:

HA
⇌ H+ + A–

Ethanoic acid is a typical weak acid, with its ions in dynamic equilibrium with the
un-dissociated acid. The reaction is moving both directions at the same rate.

CH3COOH
⇌ H+ + CH3COO–
Properties of an acids

 Anacid is a compound containing hydrogen

which become H+ ion in aqueous solutions.

 Acidstend to have a _sour taste (vinegar for e.g

contains acetic acid _ _ acid and
lemon juice contains citric acid)

 Acids turn _ _Blue _ _ litmus paper _ Red_ _.

 They turn universal indicator _ _ Red_ if they are

strong, and orange and yellow if they are weak .
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 NAME FORMULA pH FOUND IN

Sulphuric acid H2SO4 1 ____

___________
_ _ _ _ _ _ acid C6H8O7 Weak acid Lemons,
oranges
Ethanoic acid _______ 4 Vinegar

_ _ _ _ _ _ acid HNO3 1 Used in

__________
(clue: plants)
and explosives
Carbonic acid H2CO3 4 _________

Hydrochloric acid ____ ___ Stomach 10

What is an alkali?
Alkalis are substances that are chemically the opposite of acids.

Weak alkalis are found in soaps and other cleaning

materials. They are also used in antacids to treat
indigestion.

It is safe to handle these alkalis, which

often feel soapy.

These alkalis are weak alkalis.

What is an alkali?
An alkali is a base that dissolves in water to form a solution containing
-
hydroxide ions (OH (aq)).

Examples of bases include metal oxides and metal

hydroxides. If these dissolve in water, they will form alkaline
solutions.

-
Sodium hydroxide is a base that produces OH (aq) ions.
Sodium hydroxide is also an example of an alkali commonly found in the
laboratory.

- +
When sodium hydroxide dissolves, OH (aq) Na (aq) ions are produced.

NaOH (aq) 
Na+ (aq) + OH- (aq)
Strong and weak alkalis
Alkalis can be classified as strong and weak in the same way as acids. A strong
alkali, such as sodium hydroxide, fully dissociates in solution.

NaOH Na+ + OH–

A weak alkali, such as ammonia, does not fully dissociate, and some of the OH –
ions are not released into solution.

NH3 + H2O
⇌ NH4+ + OH–

Comparable levels of ion dissociation mean that strong and weak alkalis have
similar properties to strong and weak acids.
Strong alkali?
Some alkalis, like those used in
laboratories, or in cleaning materials
such as bleach, are too dangerous to
touch.

These alkalis are said to be caustic

because they can burn skin, and
damage other materials.

These are strong alkalis.

What safety precautions should

you take when handling a strong
alkali?
 Properties of an alkali

 Alkalis release OH- ions in water

 Many Alkalis have a soapy/slippery feel.

 When alkalis do NOT dissolve in water they are called Base .

 Alkalis turn Red litmus paper BLUE.

 They turn _universal indicator dark blue or purple
if they are strong.

 Alkalis are a type of BASE

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 NAME FORMULA DISSOLVE ALKALI FOUND IN
IN H2O? OR BASE?
___________ CuO No _______ -
_______
Alkali Used to remove
Sodium _______ _____ grease
hydroxide from ovens +
used to make _
___
Main active
___________ NH3 Yes ________ ingredient in
household
________
fluids
__________ Ca(OH)2 ___ Base Slaked lime
___________ used in
agriculture
Aluminium Al(OH)3 ____ Base Used in some 16
hydroxide _____________
Strong and weak acids and alkalis
What is an indicator?
An indicator is a chemical that turns a
different colour depending on whether
it is added to an acid or an alkali.

Litmus is a commonly used indicator. It can be added to filter paper, or used as a

liquid. Litmus is made from lichen, which grows on stone and rock.

Litmus can be blue or red.

 Blue litmus turns red under acidic
conditions (< pH 4.5), and

 red litmus turns blue under alkaline

conditions (> pH 8.3).

neutral
alkali
What colour do you think litmus is under acid
neutral conditions?
What is universal indicator?
Universal indicator has a range of colours that show how weak or strong the
acid or alkali is.

strong acid weak acid neutral weak alkali strong alkali

What is the colour for a weak acid?

What is the colour for a strong alkali?

Universal indicator is made from a mixture of indicators.

Why do you think it is more useful than litmus?
What is the pH scale?
The strength of an acid or alkali is measured by the pH scale.

Each universal indicator colour is given a pH value.

Universal indicator can tell you the pH of a solution.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

strong acid neutral strong alkali

What is the pH of a weak acid?

What is the pH of a strong alkali?

Using universal indicator
 Neutral substances
•_ _ _ _ _ is a neutral substance

• It turns universal indicator paper green

• No effect on _ _ _ _ _ _
paper
• It has a pH of exactly __

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Water
Water is a neutral liquid.

The term ‘neutral’ indicates that a solution or liquid

has an equal concentration of hydrogen ions and
hydroxide ions. This means that it is neither acidic or
alkaline.

In liquid water, parts of some water molecules are able to dissociate from their
+ -
normal form, H2O, to make equal numbers of H (aq) and OH (aq) ions. The
equation below shows this process:

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

Thanky0u

Good luck

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