*ACID is a chemical compound

INTRODUCTION

An acid is a substance that produces hydrogen (H+) ions when it is added to water. A hydrogen ion is just the
proton and no electron. If we look at the formulas of different acids, we can see that they all contain at least
one H (hydrogen) - for example:

HCl – hydrochloric acid

H2SO4 – sulfuric acid
HNO3 – nitric acid

When we think of acid, what is the first thing that comes into our mind? Acids are known to create a burning
effect whatever it comes into contact with.

*The term acid comes from a latin word "Acidus" which means “sour”.

“Are all acids sour to taste?” - Yes, but the intensity of sourness varies in different acids. The overall taste of
acid is always sour.

Examples that contains acids include citruses such as Limes, Oranges, and Lemons

Muriatic Acid / Hydrochloric acid in contact with skin or other tissues can cause chemical burns that can be
severe. Hydrochloric acid in the eyes can cause blindness. The severity of the burns depends upon the
concentration of the acid and the amount of time it is left in contact with the tissues.

INDICATOR - is the substance used to check whether the compound is acidic or not.
Litmus Paper - Blue litmus paper turns red when comes into contact with acid

 A chemical that gives off hydrogen ions in water and forms salts by combining with certain metals. Acids have
a sour taste and turn certain dyes red. Some acids made by the body, such as gastric acid, can help organs
work the way they should.

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF ACID

 Acids have a SOUR taste
 All acids are SOLUBLE in water
 Acids solutions turn BLUE litmus paper    RED
 Most acid solutions are CORROSIVE
 Acids have the ability to conduct electricity. Aqueous acidic solutions are used as strong electrolytes.
 Acids are mostly present in liquid or gaseous forms. But we do have solid acids like zeolitic materials.
 Acidic fumes will burn your nose (Warning: Never inhale acid fumes)
 Acids are identified by shades of red and yellow color with universal indicator solution.
 Most acids can be diluted with water to reduce the intensity of their acidity.

CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF ACIDS

 Acids have a pH of less than 7
 Aqueous solutions of acids are electrolytes, meaning that they conduct electrical current. Some acids are
strong electrolytes because they ionize completely in water, yielding a great many ions. Other acids are
weak electrolytes that exist primarily in a non-ionized form when dissolved in water.
 Acids react with active metals to yield hydrogen gas. Recall that an activity series is a list of metals in
descending order of reactivity. Metals that are above hydrogen in the activity series will replace the
hydrogen from an acid in a single-replacement reaction
 Acids react with bases to produce a salt compound and water. When equal moles of an acid and a base
are combined, the acid is neutralized by the base. The products of this reaction are an ionic compound,
which is labeled as a salt, and water.
USES of Acid in Household
Acids are used in our home for a variety of the things, some common acids are:-
 Citric acid - it is found in all the citrus fruits. Lactic acid - It is found in the milk when it gets transformed
into the curd.
 Acetic acid - It is found in vinegar, pickles and ketchup.
 Ammonium hydroxide -  Most people prefer it as a cleaning and disinfectant solution for various surfaces
and fixtures.
 Hydrochloric acid - is found in many drain and toilet cleaners as well as mould removal products for its
ability to dissolve mineral deposits.
 Oxalic Acid - is used for the cleaning and restoration of metal surfaces where it easily removes rust and
impurities from iron and steel
 can also be used as an insecticide

USES of Acid on Crime Scenes

 HCl (Hydrochloric Acid) is the most commonly used acid, this can be used to poison or torture victims
resulting in death

 Detectives use ninhydrin to reveal fingerprints left at crime scenes. Ninhydrin reacts with amino acids
found in the natural oils on our skin to produce a purple product.

 Acid Yellow 7
 Main uses: Blood traces on non-porous surfaces
 Acid Yellow 7 is a dye solution in a water/acetic acid/ethanol mixture that is used for staining fingerprints
and shoeprints made in blood. Prints in blood are colored yellow after treatment with Acid Yellow 7. They
then fluoresce under blue/blue-green light. Acid Yellow 7 should not be used on absorbent surfaces like
paper, carton material, bed sheets, or carpet. It works very well on non-absorbent backgrounds like
linoleum, glass, tiles, painted surfaces, or PVC floor covering.