Acid and bases notes

Acids and alkalis

Acids: proton donors
When acids dissolve in water they produce hydrogen ions, H+. These are sometimes called protons, because
hydrogen ions are the same as a hydrogen nucleus (which is a proton).
For example, take a look at the dissociation equation for hydrochloric acid, nitric acid and sulfuric acid
HCl(aq) → H+(aq) + Cl–(aq)
HNO3(aq) → H+(aq) + NO3– (aq)
H2SO4(aq) → 2H+(aq) + SO4-(aq)
Note that (aq) stands for aqueous and means that the substance is in solution
Ethanoic acid (acetic acid) is a weak acid, take a look at the dissociation equation for ethanoic acid.

CH3COOH(aq) ⇌ H+(aq) + CH3COO–(aq)

Alkalis: proton acceptors

When alkalis dissolve in water they produce hydroxide ions, OH–.
For example, take a look at the dissociation equation for sodium hydroxide.
NaOH(aq) → Na+(aq) + OH–(aq)
Ammonia is slightly different. This is the dissociation equation for ammonia in solution.

NH3(aq) + H2O(l) ⇌ NH4+(aq) + OH–(aq)

Bases: proton acceptors

A base is chemically opposite to an acid. Some bases dissolve in water and are called alkalis. Other bases,
including many metal oxides and carbonates, do not dissolve in water.

Neutralization reaction
When the H+ ions from an acid react with the OH– ions from an alkali, a neutralization reaction occurs to
form water. This is the ionic equation for the reaction.
H+(aq) + OH–(aq) → H2O(l)
For example, hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide solution react together to form water and sodium
chloride solution. The acid contains H+ ions and Cl– ions, and the alkali contains Na+ ions and OH– ions.
The H+ ions and OH– ions produce the water, and the Na+ ions and Cl– ions (spectator ions) produce the
sodium chloride, NaCl(aq).
NaOH (aq) + HCl (aq)  NaCl(aq) + H2O(l)
Na+ (aq) + OH- (aq) + H+ (aq) + Cl- (aq)  Na+ (aq) + Cl- (aq) + H2O(l)
H+(aq) + OH–(aq) → H2O(l) ---------> net ionic equation of neutralization
 Acid and bases notes

Because neutralization reactions involve the loss and gain of hydrogen ions, this process is sometimes
referred to as ‘proton transfer’.

pH scale and indicators

Many chemicals can be classified as being acidic, neutral or alkaline by using indicators. The pH scale is
used to measure acidity and alkalinity. When an acid is neutralized, it forms a salt.

Indicators
When an acid is dissolved in water we get an acidic solution. When a base dissolves in water it is
an alkali and makes an alkaline solution. If a solution is neither acidic nor alkaline it is neutral. Pure water
is neutral, and so is paraffin.
Indicators are substances that change color when they are added to acidic or alkaline solutions. Universal
indicator is the indicator most commonly used in the laboratory.

(Memorize the table below)

The pH scale
The chemical properties of many solutions enable them to be divided into three categories
– acidic, alkaline and neutral solutions.
The pH scale is used to measure acidity and alkalinity:
 solutions with a pH less than 7 are acidic
 solutions with a pH of 7 are neutral
 solutions with a pH greater than 7 are alkaline
If universal indicator is added to a solution it changes to a color that shows the pH of the
solution. Universal indicator is a mixture of a variety of other indicators and can be used to
measure the approximate pH of a solution. A more accurate value can be obtained using a pH
probe.
 Acid and bases notes

Weak acids vs strong acids

Strong and weak acids
Strong acids dissociate (ionize) fully in water to produce the maximum number of H+ ions. This means if
you had one mole of hydrochloric acid (HCl) molecules, they would all ‘split’ to form one mole of H+ ions
and one mole of Cl– ions.

Weak acids, such as ethanoic acid (CH3COOH), do not fully dissociate (ionize). In fact, about only 1% of
ethanoic acid molecules split up to form H+ ions and CH3COO– ions at any one time.

This means that the pH values of strong acids are lower than that of weak acids, which explains why the
rate of reaction of strong acids with substances (such as metals, metal carbonates etc) is higher than that of
weak acids.
 Acid and bases notes

Concentrated and dilute acids

Weak and strong should not be mistaken for dilute and concentrated. A dilute acid has the acid
molecules mixed with a large amount of water, so that there is only a low concentration of
H+ ions. Concentrated acids have little water molecules mixed with the acid molecules, meaning
the concentration of H+ ions is high.

For example, a dilute solution of HCl will be more acidic than a concentrated solution of ethanoic
acid, since most of the HCl molecules dissociate but very few of the CH 3COOH do.
 Acid and bases notes
Identifying strong and weak acids
Test Experiment (steps)
1) prepare the same
concentration of both acids
Universal
(e.g. 0.1 mol/dm3)
indictor
2) add 1 -2 drops of the
paper/solution
universal indicator
3) notice the color change
1) prepare the same
concentration of both acids
(e.g. 0.1 mol/dm3)
2) put the pH-meter electrode
pH meter
in both solutions one by one
(don’t forget to wash the
electrode with distilled water)
3) take the pH -reading
1) prepare the same
concentration of both acids
(e.g. 0.1 mol/dm3)
2) use an electrical circuit
(light bulb, ammeter, wires,
Electrical two electrodes, battery)
conductivity 3) put the electrodes in both
solutions one by one (don’t
forget to wash the electrode
with distilled water)
3) take ammeter reading and
watch the light intensity
1) prepare the same
concentration of both acids
(e.g. 0.1 mol/dm3)
2) weigh the same grams of
magnesium metal for both
acid (e.g. 1 g)
3) prepare a setup to
measure the rate of the
Reaction with
reaction (flask, rubber
magnesium
stopper, gas tube, gas
syringe or a graduated
cylinder)
4) add the magnesium ribbon
to the acid
5) Measure the tome taken
for a specific volume of
hydrogen gas to be collected.
Result Explanation
Strong acids will
Strong acids dissociate
turn the universal
fully
indicator red
The stronger the acid, the
Weak acids will
greater the concentration
turn the universal
of hydrogen ions , the
indicator yellow or
lower the pH
orange
Strong acids dissociate
Strong acids will
fully
give a pH between
The stronger the acid, the
(1-2) and weak
greater the concentration
acids between (3-
of hydrogen ions , the
5)
lower the pH
The stronger the Ions can carry the current
acid the more the stronger the acid, the
intense the light greater the dissociation,
the higher the
The stronger the concentration of ions
acid the higher the (positive and negative), the
ammeter (current) better the electrical
reading conductivity
Strong acids react
quicker than weak
acid
Magnesium metal
Strong acids dissociate
disappears faster
fully
in strong acid (if
The stronger the acid, the
the acid is in
greater the concentration
excess)
of hydrogen ions , the
The time taken to faster the reaction is, the
measure a specific lower the time
volume (e.g. 50
cm3 ) of hydrogen
gas is shorter
using a strong acid
 Acid and bases notes

Reactions of acids
1- with metal
Acid + Metal  salt + hydrogen
Ex: hydrochloric acid + magnesium  magnesium chloride + hydrogen
2HCl (aq) + Mg (s)  MgCl2 (aq) + H2 (g)

2- with alkalis (metal hydroxide)

Acid + Alkali  salt + water
Ex: nitric acid + sodium hydroxide  sodium nitrate + water
HNO3 (aq) + NaOH (aq)  NaNO3(aq) + H2O (l)

3- with metal oxide (insoluble base)

Acid + metal oxide  Salt + water
Ex: sulfuric acid + magnesium oxide  magnesium sulfate + water
H2SO4(aq) + MgO(s)  MgSO4(aq) + H2O(l)

4- with metal carbonate

Acid + metal carbonate  Salt + carbon dioxide + water
Ex: ethanoic acid + calcium carbonate  calcium ethanoate + carbon dioxide + water
2CH3COOH(aq) + CaCO3(s)  (CH3COO)2Ca + CO2 + H2 O

5- with ammonia
Acid + ammonia  Ammonium Salt
Ex : nitric acid + ammonia  ammonium nitrate
Sulfuric acid + ammonia  ammonium sulfate
Hydrochloric acid + ammonia  ammonium Chloride
 Acid and bases notes

Reactions of alkalis:
1- with acids (the same as described above)
2- with ammonium salts
alkali + ammonium salt  salt + ammonia + water
Ex: sodium hydroxide + ammonium nitrate  sodium nitrate + ammonia + water
NaOH + NH4NO3  NaNO3 + NH3 + H2O

Oxides:
Oxide is a compound of oxygen and another element
Examples: CO2, MgO, Fe2O3 and H2O

types of
oxides

Acidic Basic
Neutral Amphoteric

1- Acidic Oxides are oxides that react with bases not with acids.
 Non-metallic oxides
 pH < 7
 soluble in water
 when dissolve in water they produce acids
 Acid and bases notes

Acidic Oxide Formula Acid Produced with Water

sulphur trioxide SO3 sulphuric acid, H2SO4

sulphur dioxide SO2 sulphurous acid, H2SO3

carbon dioxide CO2 carbonic acid, H2CO3

phosphorous(V)
P4O10 phosphoric acid, H3PO4
oxide

 react with alkalis to produce salt and water

Ex1: carbon dioxide + sodium hydroxide  sodium carbonate + water
CO2 + 2NaOH  Na2CO3 + H2O
Ex2: sulfur trioxide + sodium hydroxide  sodium sulfate + water
SO3 + 2NaOH  Na2SO4 + H2O

2- Basic oxides: are oxides that react with acids but don’t react with bases.
 Metallic oxides
 pH > 7
 most basic oxides are insoluble in water.
 Examples on basic oxides

Basic Oxide Formula

magnesium oxide MgO (white)

sodium oxide Na2O (white)

calcium oxide CaO (white)

copper(II) oxide CuO (black)
 Acid and bases notes
 React with acids to produce salt and water
Ex: nitric acid + magnesium oxide  magnesium nitrate + water
2HNO3 + MgO  Mg(NO3)2 + H2O

3- Amphoteric oxides: are oxides that react with acids and bases
 Metallic oxides
 Examples:

Amphoteric oxides
and hydroxides Formula

Aluminum oxide Al2O3

Zinc oxide ZnO

Aluminum hydroxide Al(OH)3

Zinc hydroxide Zn(OH)2

 Act like acids and bases

Ex: ZnO as a base
Zinc Oxide + hydrochloric acid  Zinc chloride + water
ZnO + 2HCl  ZnCl2 H2O
ZnO as an acid
Zinc oxide + sodium hydroxide  sodium zincate + water
ZnO + 2NaOH  Na2ZnO2 + H2O

4- Neutral Oxides: oxides that don’t react with acids or bases

 Non-metallic oxides
 Examples: CO, NO and H2O
Acid and bases notes
 Acid and bases notes

Making salts

Salts

soluble insoluble

Solubility Rules:
Soluble Insoluble

All common sodium, potassium and ammonium

salts
All nitrates
Most common chlorides Silver chloride, lead chloride
Lead sulfate, barium sulfate, calcium
Most common sulfates
sulfate
Sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate,
Most common carbonates
ammonium carbonate
Sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide,
Most common hydroxides
ammonium hydroxide

There are four ways of making soluble salts from acids:

Method 1) acid + alkali  a salt + water

Method 2) acid + metal  a salt + hydrogen
Method 3) acid + metal oxide  a salt + water
Method 4) acid + carbonate  a salt + carbon dioxide + water
 Acid and bases notes
Making soluble salts using method (1) titration:

• Use a pipette to measure the alkali into a conical flask and add a few drops of
indicator (phenolphthalein or methyl orange)
• Add the acid into the burette and record the initial volume
• Add the acid very slowly from the burette to the conical flask until the indicator
changes to appropriate color
• Record the final volume of acid in burette and calculate the volume of acid added
(final volume of acid – initial volume of acid)
• Add this same volume of acid into the same volume of alkali without the indicator
• Heat to partially evaporate, leaving a saturated solution
• Leave to crystallize (cool) decant excess solution and allow crystals to dry in air.

Making soluble salts using method (2, 3 and 4):

• Add dilute acid into a beaker and heat using a Bunsen burner flame
• Add the insoluble metal, base or carbonate, a little at a time, to the warm dilute acid
and stir until the base is in excess (i.e. until the base stops dissolving and a
suspension of the base forms in the acid)
• Filter the mixture into an evaporating dish to remove the excess base (residue)
• Heat the solution to evaporate water partially and to make the solution saturated.
Check the solution is saturated (crystallization point) by dipping a cold, glass rod
into the solution and seeing if crystals form on the end
• Leave the filtrate in a warm place to crystallize.
• Filter off the crystals and dry in air or between filter papers.

Making insoluble salts using precipitation:

• Mix 2 aqueous solutions together using a stirring rod in a beaker.

• Filter to remove precipitate from mixture as a residue.
• Wash Residue with distilled water to remove traces of other solutions (impurities).
• Leave in an air to dry or between 2 filter papers.
 Acid and bases notes
Identification of ions and gases
 Acid and bases notes

Flame test method:

 Clean nichrome wire by dipping it into hydrochloric acid then placing it in the roaring flame
(this is repeated until the wire no longer produces a colour in the flame).
 The end of the wire is dipped into fresh hydrochloric acid and then into the solid sample
under test.
 The end of the wire should then be placed into a non-roaring, non-luminous Bunsen flame.
 Colour of flame is observed and recorded.