ACIDS, BASES & SALTS

Acids are sour in taste, turn blue litmus red, & dissolve in water to release H+ ions. Example – HCl, H2SO4, HNO3 etc.

Bases are bitter in taste, have soapy touch, turn red litmus blue & give hydroxide ions in water. Example – NaOH, KOH etc.

Salts are compounds formed by Neutralization Reaction between acids & bases. Example – NaCl formed by reaction
between HCl (Acid) & NaOH (Base).

INDICATORS
These are the substances which indicate the acidic or basic nature of a solution by their color change. The color
of some acid - base indicators in acidic & basic medium are given below.

Indicator Acid Base

Litmus (Natural) Red Blue
Turmeric (Natural) Yellow Reddish Brown
Methyl-Orange (Synthetic) Pink Yellow
Phenolpthalein (Synthetic) Colorless Pink

OLFACTORY INDICATOR
It is a substance whose odor changes in acidic or basic medium. Onion, clove oil can be used as olfactory
indicator.

GUSTATORY INDICATOR
It is a substance whose taste varies depending on whether it is mixed with an acidic or basic solution.

Chemical Properties of Acids:

a) Reaction with Metal: Acids react with active metals to give hydrogen gas.

Zn + H2SO4 ZnSO4 + H2
Zinc Sulphuric Acid Zinc sulphate Hydrogen

METAL + ACID SALT + HYDROGEN GAS

b) Reaction with Metal Carbonates: Acids react with Metal carbonate or Metal hydrogen-carbonate to give CO2

NaHCO3 + HCl NaCl + H2O + CO2

Sodium hydrogen carbonate Hydrogen chloride Sodium Chloride Water Carbon dioxide

METAL + ACID SALT + WATER + CO2

HYDROGEN CARBONATE

Na2CO3 + 2 HCl 2 NaCl + H2O + CO2

Sodium carbonate Hydrogen chloride Sodium Chloride Water Carbon dioxide

METAL + ACID SALT + WATER + CO2

CARBONATE
 c) Reaction with Bases: Acids react with base to give salt & water. This reaction is called Neutralization Reaction.

NaOH + HCl NaCl + H2O

Sodium hydroxide Hydrochloric Acid Sodium chloride Water

BASE + ACID SALT + WATER

d) Reaction with Metallic Oxides: Acids react with metal oxide to give salt & water.

CuO + H2SO4 CuSO4 + H2O

Copper(II) oxide Sulphuric Acid Copper sulphate Water

METAL OXIDE + ACID SALT + WATER

Note:
Since metallic oxides react with acids to give salt and water, similar to the reaction of a base with an acid ,
“Metallic oxides are said to be Basic oxides”

On the basis of origin, acids are classified as –

Organic acids:
These are derived from living organisms like plants & animals.
For example: Acetic acid present in vinegar.

Mineral acids:
These are derived from one or more inorganic compounds. They are dangerous.
For example: H2SO4, HCl.

On the basis of strength, acids are classified as –

Strong acids:
These completely dissociate into ions in aqueous solution.
For example: H2SO4, HCl, HNO3.

Weak acids:
These do not completely dissociate into ions in aqueous solution.
For example: H2CO3, CH3COOH.

On the basis of their concentration, acids are classified as –

Dilute acids:
They have low concentration of acid in aqueous solution (i.e more water less acid).

Concentrated acids:
They have high concentration of acid in aqueous solution (i.e less water more acid).
On the basis of number of H+ ions, acids are classified as –
Monoprotic acids:
They produce one mole of H+ ions per mole of acid.
(i.e. donate one proton or hydrogen atom per molecule to an aqueous solution)
For example: HCl, HNO3.

Polyprotic acids:
They produce more than 1 mole of H+ ions per mole of acid.
(i.e. donate more than one proton or hydrogen atom per molecule to an aqueous solution)
Example: Diprotic, Triprotic etc.
Diprotic acids:
They produce 2 mole of H+ ions per mole of acid.
(i.e. donate two proton or hydrogen atom per molecule to an aqueous solution)
For example: H2CO3, H2SO4.

Triprotic acids:
They produce 3 mole of H+ ions per mole of acid.
(i.e. donate three proton or hydrogen atom per molecule to an aqueous solution)
For example: H3PO4.

Chemical Properties of Bases:

a) Reaction with Metal: Bases react with active metals to give hydrogen gas.

Zn + NaOH Na2ZnO2 + H2
Zinc Sodium Hydroxide Sodium zincate Hydrogen

METAL + BASE SALT + HYDROGEN GAS

b) Reaction with Bases: Bases react with acids to give salt & water. This reaction is called Neutralization Reaction.

HCl + KOH KCl + H2O

Hydrochloric Acid Potassium hydroxide Potassium chloride Water

ACID + BASE SALT + WATER

c) Reaction with Non-Metallic Oxides: Bases react with non-metal oxide to give salt & water.

CO2 + NaOH Na2CO3 + H2O

Carbon dioxide Sodium Hydroxide Sodium carbonate Water

Non-Metallic Oxide + BASE SALT + WATER

On the basis of strength, bases are classified as –
Strong bases:
These completely dissociate into ions in aqueous solution.
For example: NaOH, KOH.

Weak bases:
These do not completely dissociate into ions in aqueous solution.
For example: NH4OH.

On the basis of their concentration, bases are classified as –

Dilute bases:
They have low concentration of alkali in aqueous solution (i.e more water less alkali).

Concentrated bases:
They have high concentration of alkali in aqueous solution (i.e less water more alkali).

Note:
Addition of Acids or Bases to water
The process of dissolving an acid, specially HNO3/ H2SO4 or a base in water is highly exothermic.
As a rule: Always add acid to water & never water into acid. The acid must be added slowly to water with constant
stirring. If one mixes the other way i.e. by adding water to a highly concentrated acid, the heat generated causes
the mixture to splash out & cause burns.