Chemistry

Acids and Bases

Complete the following questions:

1. Differentiate between an Acid and a Base.

An acid is defined as a substance that contains hydrogen ions which can be replaced
directly or indirectly by a metal to form a salt. A base is a substance that combines
with hydrogen and reacts with acid to form salts and water only. The main difference
between the two is that acids are proton donators while bases are proton acceptors.

2. Research Three Properties of an Acid and Four Properties of a Base.

Three properties of an acid
1. Acids have a sour taste
2. Acid turns blue litmus paper red.
3. All acids contain hydrogen ions.

Four properties of a base

1. They have a bitter taste.
2. They turn red litmus paper blue.
3. They feel soapy.
4. They have a pH value greater than 7.

3. Give the Definition for the term Salts.

A salt is a compound formed when some or all of the hydrogen ions in an acid are
replaced by metal or ammonium ions.

4. Identify three ways in which salt may be prepared.

1. Ionic Precipitation-Precipitation refers to a chemical reaction that occurs in
aqueous solution when two ions bond together to form an insoluble salt, which
is known as the precipitate. A precipitation reaction can occur when two
solutions containing different salts are mixed, and a cation/anion pair in the
resulting combined solution forms an insoluble salt; this salt then precipitates
out of solution.
2. Titration- In an acid-base titration one of the solutions is an acid and the other
a base. One is placed in a flask. The other is placed in a burette, from which it
is dripped into the flask until the titration reaches its end point.
A suitable indicator needs to be chosen such that the end point shows
accurately that all of the solution in the flask has reacted with the solution
being dripped into it - the point at which this happens is called the equivalence
point.
3. Direct combination-This is done by heating a metal with non-metal.

5. Identify three examples of acids in the home and two examples of acids in the
lab.
Acids in the home:
1. Acetic acid from vinegar
2. Citric acid from citrus fruits like lemons
 3. Lactic acid from sour milk
Acids in the lab:
1. Hydrochloric acid- HCl
2. Nitric acid-HNO3

6. Identify three examples of bases in the home and two examples of bases in the
lab.
Bases in the home:
1. Sodium Bicarbonate - Baking Soda
2. Bleach
3. Washing Powder
Bases in the lab:
1. Calcium Hydroxide-Ca(OH)2
2. Potassium Hydroxide-KOH

7. Research two types of reactions in acids and one type of reaction in bases.
Types of reactions in acids
1. Acids react with reactive metals
Acids react with most metals and, when they do, a salt is produced. It doesn't
matter which metal or which acid is used, if there is a reaction we always get
hydrogen gas as well as the salt. However, how quickly the reaction goes
depends on the metal used and how high up in the reactivity series it is.
2. Acids react with bases
The reaction of an acid with a base is called a neutralization reaction. The
products of this reaction are a salt and water.

Type of reactions in bases

1. Bases react with ammonium salts
Ammonium salts react readily with bases to produce ammonia gas.