Cambridge IGCSE Combined and Co-ordinated Sciences Revision checklists

Chapter C5  Acids, bases and salts

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The oxides of non-metals generally form acidic
solutions in water; the oxides of metals, if soluble,
generally form alkaline solutions.
All acids contain hydrogen and dissolve in water to
give solutions with a pH below 7.

pH is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of an

aqueous solution of a substance:
• solutions with a pH less than 7 are acidic
• solutions with a pH greater than 7 are alkaline
• a pH of 7 shows that a solution is neutral.
Acid and alkali solutions conduct electricity – they
contain ions. Acid solutions contain an excess of
hydrogen ions, and alkali solutions contain an excess
of hydroxide ions.
Acids turn litmus red and alkalis turn litmus blue.
Other single indicators, such as methyl orange, have
their own specific colour change. Universal Indicator
shows a range of colours depending on the pH of the
solution tested.
Bases are the chemical ‘opposites’ of acids and
neutralise the effects of acids. Some bases are soluble
in water – these bases are called alkalis.
Acids show characteristic reactions. They react with:
• bases to produce a salt and water only – this is a
neutralisation reaction
• some metals, to give a salt and hydrogen gas
• metal carbonates, to give a salt, water and
carbon dioxide gas.

Salts are substances produced from acids by

reactions in which the hydrogen in the acid is
replaced by a metal. They are widely used in the
home and in industry. Salts are ionic compounds and
many are soluble in water. Soluble salts can be made
by reaction between:
• an acid and an alkali
• an acid and (an excess of) a metal
• an acid and (an excess of) a metal oxide
• an acid and (an excess of) a metal carbonate.
Acids and alkalis can be either strong or weak. Strong
acids and strong alkalis are completely ionised in
water. Weak acids and weak alkalis are only partially
dissociated into ions in water.

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Cambridge IGCSE Combined and Co-ordinated Sciences Revision checklists

Chapter C5  Acids, bases and salts (continued)

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The neutralisation of any acid with any alkali can be
represented by the ionic equation:
H+(aq) + OH–(aq) → H2O(l)
Acids can be defined as molecules or ions that can
donate a proton (H+ ion). Bases can be defined as
molecules or ions that can accept a proton.
Some metal oxides and hydroxides are amphoteric –
they react with both acids and alkalis.

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