INTERNATIONAL INDIAN SCHOOL, JEDDAH

VI-VIII
Science
Class: VII CH 5. ACIDS, BASES AND SALTS

Exercise Questions

1. State the differences between acids and

bases.Solution:

Acids Bases

Acids are sour in taste Bases are bitter in taste

Acids turn blue litmus paper into red colour Bases turn red litmus paper into blue

Acids do not change the colour of turmeric Bases turn turmeric to red.

Acids remain colourless with Bases turn to red with phenolphthalein indicator
phenolphthalein indicator
Acids turn to dark pink with china rose Bases turn to green with china rose indicator
indicator

2. Ammonia is found in many household products, such as window cleaners. It turns red
litmusblue. What is its nature?
Solution: Ammonia is basic in nature. Bases turn red litmus to blue.
3. Name the source from which litmus solution is obtained. What is the use of this

solution?

Solution: Litmus solution is extracted from lichens. Litmus solution is used as an indicator to find
whether asolution is acidic or basic.

4. Is distilled water acidic/basic/neutral? How would you

verify it?

Solution: Distilled water is neutral in nature, and this can be tested by using red and blue litmus
paper. In eitherof the cases colour remains unchanged which indicates that distilled water is
neutral.
5. Describe the process of neutralisation with the help of an example.
Solution:
Neutralisation is a reaction between an acid and a base to form salt and water.
For example, when sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is added to hydrochloric acid (HCl), sodium
chloride(NaCl) and water (H2O) are obtained.
Sodium hydroxide + Hydrochloric acid ------→ Sodium chloride + Water

6. Mark ‘T’ if the statement is true and ‘F’ if it is false:

(i) Nitric acid turns red litmus blue. (T/F)

(ii) Sodium hydroxide turns blue litmus red. (T/F)

(iii) Sodium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid neutralise each other and form salt and water.
(T/F)
(iv) Indicator is a substance which shows different colours in acidic and basic solutions. (T/F)

(v) Tooth decay is caused by the presence of a base. (T/F)

Solution:

i) False (ii) False (iii) True (iv) True (v) False

7. Dorji has a few bottles of soft drink in his restaurant. But unfortunately, these are
not labelled. He has to serve the drinks on the demand of customers. One customer
wants acidic drink, another wants basic and third one wants neutral drink. How will
Dorji decide which drinkis to be served to whom?
Solution:
Dorji can use blue and red litmus papers to test the nature of the solution. Dorji has to put a
drop of each solution on blue litmus and red litmus papers separately. If blue litmus turns red
then the solution will be acidic in nature. And if red litmus turns blue, it will be a basic
solution. If the solution does not change the colour of both red and blue litmus papers, then it
is a neutral solution.

8. Explain why:

(a) An antacid tablet is taken when you suffer from acidity

(b) Calamine solution is applied on the skin when an ant bites.

(c) Factory waste is neutralised before disposing it into the water bodies.
Solution:
 1. The antacid tablet contains a base, like milk of magnesia, which neutralises the acid
producedin the stomach. Hence, it is used while suffering from acidity and gives
relief from pain.
2. When ant bites, it injects formic acid into the skin which causes pain and irritation to
the person. Calamine consists of Zinc carbonate which is basic in nature. Hence,
applying calamine neutralises the effect of formic acid and brings relief from the pain
and irritation.
3. Factory wastes are acidic in nature which may cause harm to the aquatic life. Hence,
they areneutralised by using a base before disposing it into the water bodies.

9. Three liquids are given to you. One is hydrochloric acid; another is sodium
hydroxide andthird is a sugar solution. How will you identify them? You have only
turmeric indicator.
Solution:
Turmeric changes its yellow color to red color when base, here sodium hydroxide, is added to
it. This red solution can be used to identify the nature of the remaining two solutions.

Divide this red solution into two portions. Add few drops of each solution in to these
separately.

One of the solutions will turn the red solution back to yellow, which is Hydrochloric acid. This
happens due to neutralisation reaction.

The other solution which retains the red colour will be sugar solution.
10. Blue litmus paper is dipped in a solution. It remains blue. What is the nature of the
solution?Explain.
Solution:
Above solution may be neutral or basic in nature as both of them will not change the colour of
the bluelitmus paper.
11. Consider the following statements:

(a) Both acids and bases change colour of all indicators.

(b) If an indicator gives a colour change with an acid, it does not give a change with a base.

(c) If an indicator changes colour with a base, it does not change colour with an acid.

(d) Change of colour in an acid and a base depends on the type of the indicator.

Which of these statements are correct?

(i) All four (ii) a and d (iii) b, c and d (iv) only d
Solution: (iv) Only d
 Ch 5, Acids, bases and Salts
WORKSHEET SOLUTIONS
1. What are indicators?
Indicators are special substances that are used to test whether a substance is acidic or basic.
2. What is a neutral solution?
A neutral solution is neither acidic nor basic in nature. It does not change the colour of both red
and bluelitmus papers. Examples: -distilled water, salt solution
3. What is neutralisation?
Neutralisation is the reaction between an acid and a base to give salt and water. In this
reaction, boththe acidic nature of the acid and the basic nature of the base is neutralised.
The resulting solution will be neutral.
4. Write two properties of acids?
(i) Acids are sour in taste.
(ii) Acids turn blue litmus paper to red.
5. Why are toothpastes basic in nature?

Tooth pastes are basic in nature because in our mouth there are certain types of acids
which can cause tooth decay. So, when we brush our teeth the basic substance
present in toothpaste reacts with the acids present in the mouth and neutralises its
effect. Thus, it helps to prevent tooth decay.
6. Why do farmers add slaked lime to acidic soil?
Plants do not grow in soil which is too acidic or basic. So, if the soil is acidic it is treated
with bases like slaked lime (calcium hydroxide)which neutralises the acid in the soil.
7. Blue litmus paper is dipped in a solution. It remains blue. What is the nature of the solution?
The solution is either basic or neutral in nature. Bases and neutral solutions do not
change the colour of blue litmus paper.
8. What is acid rain?
The rain containing unusually excess of acids is called an acid rain. It is caused due to the air
pollution caused by Burning of coal, wood or petroleum that releases Carbon dioxide, Sulphur
dioxide and Nitrogen dioxide. These gases dissolve in rain drops to form carbonic acid,
sulphuric acid and nitric acid respectively and pour down along with the rain which is known
as acid rain.
9. What are the effects of acid rain?
Acid rain cause damage to buildings, historical monuments, plants and animals.
10. Write two properties of bases.
(i) Bases are bitter in taste (ii) Bases turn red litmus to blue
11. Write an example for neutralization reaction.
Sodium hydroxide reacts with hydrochloric acid and gives sodium chloride and water.
NaOH + HCl ---------→ NaCl + H2 O
Sodium hydroxide Hydrochloric acid Sodium Chloride Water
12. What is the chemical name of quick lime?An s :- Calcium oxide
13. What is the chemical name of slaked lime? Ans: - Calcium hydroxide
14. What is the nature of soap solution?
An s;- Soap solution is basic in nature
15. Why do farmers add organic matter to basic soil?
Crops do not grow if the soil is basic in nature. Organic matter releases acids which neutralise
the basic nature of the soil.
16. Name the acid found in
1. Vinegar- Acetic acid
2. Ant’s string- Formic acid
3. Orange- Ascorbic acid
4. Lemon-Ascorbic acid
5. Curd- Lactic acid
6. Spinach-Oxalic acid
7. Amla-Ascorbic acid
8. Tamarind-Tartaric acid
9. Grapes-Tartaric acid
10. Unripe mangoes-tartaric acid

17. Name the base found in

1. Lime water-Calcium hydroxide
2. Window cleaner-Ammonium hydroxide
3. Soap- sodium hydroxide/ potassium hydroxide
4. Milk of magnesia- magnesium hydroxide
5. Baking soda- Sodium bicarbonate
 18. Find the colour change

INDICATOR ACID BASE

Blue litmus paper Red No change
Red litmus paper No change Blue
Turmeric No change Red
China rose pink /magenta) Green
Phenolphthalein Colourless Pink/magenta
Methyl orange Red Yellow

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