Acid / Bases/Salts

Acid: Compound that release H+ ions when dissolved in water.

Physical Properties;
 pH below 7
 turn moist blue litmus red
 corrosive in nature
 sour taste
 hazardous, dilute acids are irritants

STRONG Acid:

Any Acid that completely ionizes in aqueous media is Strong Acid.

They are also known as Mineral acid / inorganic acid.

They are mostly synthetic.

They have pH in the range of 1 – 3

HCl , HNO3 , H2SO4

Sulfuric Acid, (H2SO4) is used in batteries, producing fertilizers and in making explosives

WEAK Acid:

Any Acid that partially ionizes in aqueous media is Weak Acid.

They are also known as organic acid and have pH in the range of 4-6

They are mostly naturally occurring.

Weak Acids are found in mostly fruits/ foods.

Ethanoic Acid is in vinegar, tomato.

Citric Acid is in citrus fruits.
Tartaric Acid is in grapes.
Malic Acid is in apple.
Tannic Acid is in tea.

Chemical Properties;
  Acids react with metals.
Acids react with metals to produce hydrogen gas and salt is formed.
Ca + HCl CaCl2 + H2

 Acids react with metal oxides and hydroxides.

Metal oxide and metal hydroxide react accordingly with acids forming salt and
water.

CaO + HCl CaCl 2 + H2O

Ca(OH)2 + HCl CaCl2 + H2O

 Acids react with metal carbonate and hydrogen carbonate, produce salt,
water and carbondioxide.
CaCO3 + HCl CaCl2 + H2O + CO2

Uses;

 Manufacture of agricultural fertilizer

 Manufacture of detergents, paints, dyes, artificial fibers and plastic
 Batteries
 Rust removal
 Explosives
 Preserve food

Concentrated Acids contain a large amount of acid in water.

Dilute Acids contain small amounts of acid in water.

BASE: Bases are Oxides or hydroxides of metals.

Compound that release OH- ions when dissolved in water are called ALKALI.
ALL ALKALIS ARE BASES BUT ALL BASES ARE NOT ALKALIS.
Generally speaking, the soluble bases are alkalis.

CuO, being insoluble, is a base.

NaOH is also a base, but it may be called Alkali, as it is soluble in water.

Physical Properties;
 pH above 7
 turn moist red litmus blue
 corrosive in nature
 bitter taste
 alkalis are slippery
 hazardous

STRONG Base/alkali: The base which fully ionizes in aqueous solution to produce high concentration of
OH- ions. Metals of group 1 and few group 2 metals are strong bases.

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

KOH (s) K + (aq) + OH- (aq)

Weak Base/Alkali: The base which partially ionizes in aqueous solution to produce low concentration of
OH- ions. Most Transition metals form weak bases.

Example: Zn(OH)2 , Al(OH)3 , aq NH3

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

Chemical Properties;
 Bases/Alkalis react with acids to form salt and water.
 Metal oxide and metal hydroxide react accordingly with acids forming salt and
water.

CaO + HCl CaCl 2 + H2O

ZnO + HCl ZnCl2 + H2O

Al2O3 + HCl AlCl3 + H2O

NaOH + HCl NaCl + H2O

Ca(OH)2 + HCl CaCl2 + H2O

 Alkalis react with ammonium salts and produce salt, water and ammonia.
Ammonium salt + Base Salt + Water + Ammonia

NH4Cl + NaOH NaCl + H2O + NH3

(NH4)2SO4 + NaOH Na2SO4 + H2O + NH3

Uses;
 Making soap
 As an antacid;
Milk of Magnesia, MgO,, Mg(OH)2
Milk of Alumina, Al2O3,, Al(OH)3
 To neutralize acidic soil
 Making fertilizer