Acid Bases and Salt

Acids
• The substances which taste sour contain acids in them.

• Some of the acids are naturally occurring acids e.g. lemon juice,
orange juice, vinegar, curd, tamarind etc.

• Acids are corrosive in nature and soluble in water.

• Following table shows the sources of few acids.

Sources of Acids

Source Acid

Lemon, Orange Citric acid

Vinegar Acetic acid

Curd Lactic acid

Tamarind Tartaric acid

Apple Maleic acid

Spinach Oxalic acid

Organic and Inorganic Acids

• Naturally occurring acids present in plants and animals are called
organic acids. These are weak acids. E.g. citric acid, acetic acid, lactic
acid, formic acid etc.

• Acids like hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid and nitric acid are inorganic
acids or mineral acids.

Concentrated and Dilute Acids

• An acid can be concentrated or dilute depending upon the amount of
water present in it.

• If lesser amount of water and more amount of acid is present then

that acid is concentrated acid.If more amount of water and less
amount of acid is present then that acid is dilute acid.
Uses of Acids
• Sulphuric acid

➢ It is used for manufacturing fertilizers, drugs, plastics, paints

etc.

➢ It is also useful in making batteries for vehicles

➢ also useful in paper, textile and leather industries.

• Nitric acid is used for manufacturing explosives and fertilizers.

• Hydrochloric acid is used as a cleaner to remove deposits in the

boilers.

• Soaps and fats in our body contain acids which are called fatty acids.

• Cells of our body contain an important acid DNA (de-oxyribo-nucleic

acid) which is responsible to pass characters from one generation to
another.

• Proteins are made up of acids called amino acids.

Bases
• The substances which are bitter in taste and are soapy to touch
contain bases in them.

• All bases are not soluble in water.

• The bases which are soluble in water are known as alkalis.

• Following table shows examples of few bases with their chemical

name.

Some Common Bases

Common Name Chemical Name

Caustic soda Sodium hydroxide

Washing soda Sodium carbonate

Milk of magnesia Magnesium hydroxide

Slaked lime Calcium hydroxide

Baking soda Sodium bicarbonate

Uses of Bases
• Bases are used as common reagents in various industries.

• Calcium hydroxide is used for white washing of buildings.

• Sodium hydroxide

➢ It is used for manufacturing soap.

➢ It is also used for manufacturing paper, rayon, textiles etc.

• Ammonium hydroxide is used for manufacturing fertilizers, plastics,

dyes etc.

Indicators
• Special types of substances are used to test whether a substance is
acidic or basic. These substances are known as indicators.

• An indicator is a substance which changes colour when added to an

acid or a base.

• If there is no change in the colour, then the substance is called neutral

substance.

• Indicators can be natural dyes extracted from plants or chemical

compounds.

Natural Indicators
1. Litmus:

• Litmus is a natural dye which is extracted from lichens.

• It has a purple colour in distilled water. When added to an acidic

solution, it turns red and when added to a basic solution, it turns
blue.

• If there is no change in the colour of the litmus paper, then the

substance is called neutral substance.

• It is available in the form of a solution, or in the form of strips of

paper, known as litmus paper.

• Generally, it is available as red and blue litmus paper.

 2. China Rose:

• China rose is another natural indicator which is prepared by

soaking the petals of the flower in water.

• When added to acidic solution, it turns into dark pink or magenta

and when added to basic solution it turns green.

• It has a purple colour in distilled water. When added to an acidic

solution, it turns red and when added to a basic solution, it turns
blue.

• If there is no change in the colour of the china rose indicator,

then the substance is called neutral substance.

3. Turmeric:

• Turmeric or haldi powder is another natural indicator.

• Turmeric paste made by adding water to turmeric powder is

used as an indicator for making turmeric paper.

• When added to an acidic or neutral solution, it turns yellow and

when added to a basic solution, it turns red.

4. Red Cabbage:

• Red cabbage is another natural indicator.

• Red cabbage indicator can be prepared by boiling chopped red

cabbage in water.

• When added to an acidic it turns red and when added to a basic

solution, it turns green

• If there is no change in the colour of the red cabbage indicator,

then the substance is called neutral substance.

Synthetic Indicators
• Some chemical compounds which are prepared in laboratory can also
be used as indicators to identify bases and acids.

• Methyl orange and phenolphthalein are 2 common indicators used to

test acids and bases.

• Methyl orange turns red in acidic solution and yellow in basic solution.

• Phenolphthalein is colourless in acidic solutions and turns pink in basic

solutions.
Indicators and reaction with acid, bases and neutral
substances
Sr. Indicator Reaction Reaction Reaction
No. with Acid with Bases with
substance substance Neutral
substance

1 Blue Litmus Red No reaction No reaction

2 Red Litmus No reaction Blue No reaction

3 China Rose Dark pink or Green No reaction

Magenta

4 Turmeric Yellow Red Yellow

5 Red Cabbage of Red Green No reaction

Purple colour

6 Methyl Orange Red Yellow Orange

7 Phenolphthalein Colourless Pink Colourless

Neutralisation
• When an acid and a base are mixed, they react and form a new
compound called salt.

• Water is formed during the reaction and heat is evolved.

• The reaction between an acid and a base is called neutralization.

Acid + Base -----→ Salt + Water + Heat

Importance of Neutralisation
1. Treatment of Acidity and Indigestion

➢ In our stomach hydrochloric acid is there which helps in

digestion.

➢ But excess of acid in the stomach causes acidity and indigestion.

➢ It can be treated by neutralizing the acid with a mild base.

 ➢ These bases are called antacids.

➢ Milk of magnesia is an antacid which contains a mild base i.e.

magnesium hydroxide.

2. Treatment of Acidity of Soil

➢ Due to excess use of fertilizers in the soil, the soil becomes

acidic.

➢ Acidic soil is not good for plants.

➢ To neutralize the acidity of the soil some bases like slaked lime
means calcium hydroxide or quick lime means calcium oxide is
added to the soil.

3. Treatment of Ant sting

➢ The sting of an ant contains formic acid which causes pain and
inflammation

➢ To get relief from ant sting the acid is neutralize by bases like
sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) or zinc carbonate(calamine
solution).

4. Treatment of Factory Waste

➢ When acidic waste from factories is disposed off in rivers, the

water becomes acidic and is harmful for aquatic life.

➢ To avoid pollution of rivers the factory waste is first neutralized

by bases and then thrown in water.

5. Prevention of Tooth Decay

➢ The bacteria present in mouth produce acids which lead to tooth

decay.

➢ Tooth decay is prevented by brushing the teeth with tooth paste

which contains bases.

➢ Resulting in neutralization of the acid and thus preventing

cavities.
Solution of Salts
• Salts formed by a strong acid and a strong base are called neutral
salts.

• Neutral salts produce neutral solutions when dissolved in water. E.g.

sodium chloride ( HCl + NaOH)

• Salts formed by neutralization of a strong acid and a weak base give

acidic solution. E.g. ammonium chloride ( Hcl + NH4OH)

• Salts formed by neutralization of a strong base and a weak acid give

basic solution. E.g. sodium acetate (NaOH + CH3COOH)

Uses of Salts
• Sodium chloride (common salt) is an important part of our food. It is
used as a preservative in making soaps and preparing many
chemicals.

• Sodium carbonate (washing soda) is an important part of detergents.

It is also used in making glass.

• Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) is used in baking cakes and bread.

It is also used in fire extinguishers.

• Copper sulphate (blue vitriol) is used as a fungicide and in

electroplating.

Strong and Weak Acids (H+)

• The acid which has large number of hydrogen ions (H+) are called
strong acids. E.g. hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid, nitric acid etc.

• The acid which has small number of hydrogen ions (H+) are called
weak acids. E.g. acetic acid, carbonic acid etc.

Strong and Weak Bases (OH-)

• The base which has large number of hydroxide ions (OH-) are called
strong basis. E.g. sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide etc.

The base which has small number of hydroxide ions (OH-) are called
weak bases. E.g. zinc hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide etc.
CONCEPT MAP