ACIDS AND ALKALINES

By Muhammad

What are Acids and Alkalines
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◦ An acid is substance with a pH value of less than 7
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◦ An Alkaline is a substance with a pH of more than 7
pH Scale

◦ The pH scale is a way of determining how acidic or alkaline a substance is.

 Examples of acids and Alkalines in the home
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◦ Acids
◦ One Shot –drain cleaner
◦ Vinegar
◦ Fizzy Drinks
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◦ Alkalines
◦ Toothpaste
◦ Bleach
◦ Bicarbonate of Soda
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 Hazardous symbols
◦ 1) Corrosive: this attacks certain substances such as your skin, metal and stonework.
◦ 2) Toxic: this is poisonous and if swallowed or breathed in it may lead to Death
◦ 3) Flammable: can catch fire easily
◦ 4) Explosive: heating this may lead to an explosion …
◦ 5) Caution: although this is similar to toxic and corrosive it is a less serious hazard but it might cause
skin irritation
 Explosive symbol
Corrosive symbol
Toxic symbol

Caution symbol
Flammable symbol
 How to be safe around acids and Alkalines
◦ When handling acids and Alkalines use the following precautions in order to avoid injuries :
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◦ 1)tie your hair back if you have long hair
◦ 2) wear gloves
◦ 3) wear eye protection (goggles)
◦ 4) if you get the substance in your eyes wash it out with cold water
 indicators
Indicators are substances whose solutions change colour due to changes in the pH scale. They can not tell
us how acidic or alkaline something is.

To extract an indicator :
crush it and add either water or alcohol
Or you can boil it to get its juices.
Neutralisation
◦ Examples of Neutralisation in real life:
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◦ Farmers use lime (calcium oxide) to neutralise acid soils
• Your stomach contains hydrochloric acid, and too much of this causes indigestion.
Antacid tablets contain bases such as magnesium hydroxide and magnesium
carbonate to neutralise the extra acid.
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◦ Our mouths have bacteria that can destroy our enamel. In toothpaste they have an alkaline called milk of
magnesia which can prevent this .