6.

1 Role of Water in
Showing Acidic and
Alkaline Properties
6.1.1 Define acid and alkali
6.1.2 State the meaning of basicity of an acid
6.1.3 Investigate the role of water in showing acidic and alkaline
properties through experiment
ACIDS

A chemical substance which

ionises in water to form
hydrogen ions, H+ (or
hydroxonium ions, H3O+)

HX → H+ + X-

HCl(aq)  H+(aq) + Cl-(aq) HNO3(aq)  H+(aq) + NO3-(aq)

Hydrogen ions produced will combine with the
water molecules, H2O to form Title
Title text addition hydroxonium
text addition
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H3O+ The user
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Complete the table

SO42-

PO43-
 Complete the table

Type of acids Ionisation equation (when acid ionised in

water)
HCl
HNO3
H2SO4
CH3COOH
H3PO4
BASICITY OF ACIDS
the number of hydrogen ions, H+ produced when one molecule of
acid ionises in water.
BASICITY OF ACIDS
the number of hydrogen ions, H+ produced when one molecule of
acid ionises in water.
 Basicity Meaning Example of acid

Monoprotic acid One molecule of acid ionises in

water to produced one H+ ion

HCl → H+ + Cl-
Diprotic acid One molecule of acid ionises in
water to produced two H+ ion

H2SO4 → 2H+ + SO42-

Triprotic acid One molecule of acid ionises in
water to produced three H+ ion

H3PO4 → 3H+ + PO43-

BASES

A chemical substance that

can reacts with acids to
produce salt and water only

Examples of bases:
• Metal oxide, eg; ZnO, CuO,
CaO Most bases are
• Metal hydroxide, eg; zinc
not soluble in
hydroxide, Zn(OH)2 water
ALKALI

1. A base that is soluble in water

2. Chemical substances that ionise
in water to produce hydroxide ions,
OH–.

Ionization equation:
MOH → Mn+ + OH-
Potassium hydroxide, KOH and sodium hydroxide, NaOH are alkalis
because they are soluble in water. When sodium hydroxide pellets,
NaOH is dissolved in water, sodium ions, Na+ and hydroxide ions, OH–
that can move freely in water are produced.

KOH → K+ + OH- NaOH → Na+ + OH-

What will happen to ammonia molecule when ammonia gas is
dissolved in water? Why is aqueous ammonia produced an alkali?
 Complete the table

Type of alkali Ionisation equation (when alkali ionised

in water)
NaOH
KOH
NH3
Ba(OH)2
Ca(OH)2
 USES OF ACIDS, BASES AND ALKALI
Acid Uses
a) Sulphuric acid - To make paint, detergent, and fertilizers
- Used in car batteries.
b) Nitric acid - To make fertilizier
- Explosive substances
c) Hydrochloric acid - To remove rust
d) Ethanoic acid - To make vinegar
e) Carbonic acid - To make fizzy drinks/soft drink.
f) Benzoic acid - To preserve food (eg chilli sauce)
g) Methanoic acid (formic - To coagulate the latex.
acid)
 Bases / alkali Uses
a) Ammonia - To make fertilizier
- To keep latex in liquid form
b) Sodium hydroxides - To make soap
- Cleaning liquids.
c) Calcium oxide, CaO - To control the acidity of the soil.
d) Magnesium hydroxide, - To make toothpaste
Mg(OH)2 - To make gastric medicine
e) Aluminium hydroxide - An antacid medicine (gastric pills)
USES OF ACIDS, BASES AND ALKALI
ROLES OF WATER TO SHOW ACIDITY AND ALKALINITY
Acids can show their acidic properties when dissolved in
water ONLY :
Ø Acids will ionise in water, producing hydrogen ions, H+.
Ø The present of hydrogen ions that move freely can shows
the acidic properties
Ø Other solvent CANNOT replace water to enable an acid to
show its properties.
Acids cannot show their acidic properties when :
Ø 1. Acid dissolve in organic solvent. (Example : propanone,
methylbenzene, alcohol)
- acid does not ionise in organic solvent
- free moving H+ ions does not present.
- acid exist as the covalent molecule
Acids cannot show their acidic properties when :
Ø 2. Acid in glacial/dry state (Example : glacial ethanoic acid,
dry hydrogen chloride)
- acid does not ionises without water
- free moving H+ ions does not present.
- acid exist as the covalent molecule
RESULTS:

Contents Observation

Solid oxalic acid, C2H2O4 ............... colour of litmus paper .................

Solid oxalic acid, C2H2O4 + distilled ............... colour of litmus paper ....................
water

INTERPRETING DATA:
1. The blue litmus paper changes to red.

2. Solid oxalic acid, C2H2O4 cannot show its acidic properties while solid oxalic acid,
C2H2O4 with the present of water can show its acidic properties.

3. Presence of water
CONCLUSION:

Water is needed for acid to show its acidic properties

DISCUSSION:

1.

2. Solid oxalic acid, C2H2O4 cannot ........................without water. so, the acid exist in
form of ...................................No freely ....................................... H+ ion present. therefore,
the acid .........................show its .............................. .............................
Solid oxalic acid, C2H2O4 with the present of water can ...........................in water to
form ................................... Present of .................................that move ............................. can
shows its ........................... ................................... So, ....................... litmus paper turns
to ........................

3. Acid is a substance that can changes blue litmus paper to red when the litmus
paper is dipped into acid that has been dissolved in water
Alkali can show their acidic properties when dissolved in
water ONLY :
Ø Alkali will ionise in water, producing hydroxide ions, 0H-.
Ø The present of hydroxide ions that move freely can shows
the alkaline properties
Ø Other solvent CANNOT replace water to enable an alkali to
show its properties.
Alkali cannot show their alkali properties when :
Ø 1. Alkali dissolve in organic solvent. (Example : propanone,
methylbenzene, alcohol)
- alkali does not ionise in organic solvent
- free moving OH- ions does not present.
- alkali exist as the molecule (NH3 in propanone)
Ø 2. Alkali in glacial/dry state
HYPOTHESIS:
Water is needed for alkali to show its alkaline properties

VARIABLES:
Manipulated: Presence of water
Responding: Colour change on red litmus paper
Constant: Type of alkali // Sodium hydroxide
PROCEDURE:

1. Add one sodium hydroxide pallet, NaOH into a test tube

2. Insert dry litmus paper into the test tube
3. Observe and record any changes to the colour of the blue litmus paper.
4. Add 2.0 cm3 of distilled water into the test tube
5. Shake the test tube until sodium hydroxide pallet is dissolved
6. Observe and record any changes to the colour of the blue litmus paper.
RESULTS

Contents Observation

Sodium hydroxide pallet, NaOH ............ ... colour of litmus paper .................

Sodium hydroxide pallet, NaOH + ................ colour of litmus paper ....................

distilled water

INTERPRETING DATA
1. Sodium hydroxide pellets, NaOH do not show alkaline properties but it can show
the alkaline properties with the presence of water.

2. Red litmus paper must be moistened to detect alkaline properties.

CONCLUSION:

Water is needed for alkali to show its alkaline properties

DISCUSSION:

1.

2. Sodium hydroxide pallet, NaOH cannot ......................... without water. So, the ions
are not ............................. freely and bonded in their lattice structure. therefore, the
alkali .........................show its .............................. .............................
Sodium hydroxide pallet, NaOH with the present of water can ...........................in water
to form ................................... Present of .................................that move ............................. can
shows its ........................... ................................... So, ....................... litmus paper turns
to ........................

3. Alkali is a substance that can changes .............. litmus paper to ............ when the
litmus paper is dipped into alkali that has been dissolved in water
 Hydrogen chloride, HCl gas will only shows its acid properties when
dissolved in water and not when dissolved in propanone? Explain why

Ø Hydrogen chloride gas will ........................ in water, producing

...............................
Ø The present of ........................... that ........................... can shows its
acidic properties
Ø Hydrogen chloride gas does not ......................... in ............................to
produce .............................. So, no ...............................present. It exists
in form of ............................. So, it cannot show its acidic properties
 Explain why ammonia gas will only shows its alkali properties when
dissolved in water and not in methylbenzene?

Ø ammonia gas will ........................ in water, producing ...........................

Ø The present of ........................... that ........................... can shows its
alkaline properties
Ø ........................ gas does not ......................... in ............................to
produce .............................. So, no ...............................present.
ammonia exists in form of ............................. So, it cannot show
its ......................... properties
Dry ammonia gas requires water to exhibit some of its properties.
Diagram 7 shows Set I and Set II for an experiment carried out to
study the properties of ammonia in water and ammonia in
propanone.
The two solutions in Set I and Set II are tested with red litmus paper.

a) (i) What is the function of litmus paper in this test?

To confirm the presence of ............................. [1 mark]

(ii) In the table, record the colour changes of litmus paper for Set I
and Set II
(iii) Explain why the observations in both Set I and II are different. [4 marks]
Set I : Ammonia ........................ in water to produce ...............................Presence
of ...................................... will shows its .............................properties
Set II: Ammonia cannot............................ in propanone. So, no ..................................
present. Ammonia exits in form of ...............................

b) State the type of particles exist in ammonia solution for

(i) Set I : ............................. (ii) Set II : ....................................... [2 marks]

c) Name one another substance that can be replaces propanone in Set II

......................................................
Thank you. Hope can
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