Monday 25th October 2021.

Science

BASES

Bases include ammonia and most metal oxides and hydroxides, e.g. magnesium oxide (MgO),
copper (II) hydroxide (Cu(OH)2).

ALKALIS

An alkali is a base which dissolves in, or reacts with, water to form a solution which
contains OH- ions. The solution is described as alkaline.

For example: NaOH(s) +H2O(l) Na+(aq) + OH-(aq)

Most bases are insoluble and therefore not alkalis.

 General properties of alkalis are:

 they have a bitter taste
 they are soapy to touch
 they are corrosive
 they conduct electricity, that is, they are electrolytes.

Table showing common acids and alkalis and their strengths

Strong Weak
Acids Hydrochloric acid (HCl) Ethanoic acid (CH3COOH)
Nitric acid (HNO3)
Sulfuric acid (H2SO4)
Phosphoric acid (H3PO4)
Alkalis Potassium hydroxide (KOH) Ammonia solution (NH3(aq))
Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) Calcium hydroxide
(Ca(OH)2)

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pH SCALE

The strength of an acid or alkali is measured on the pH scale. The pH scale is a number line
which runs from 0 to 14.

Diagram showing pHs of some common substances

Determination of the pH of a substance

An indicator is a substance which is one colour in an acid and another colour in a base. It
can therefore be used to test for the presence of an acid or base.

 Some indicators are available in paper form, e.g. litmus and universal indicator.

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 Moist pH paper is placed in or against the substance. The colour of the pH paper is then
matched with the colour on a pH chart, which would have the pH written on the colour.
Universal indicators (pH paper) give a different colour for each unit change of pH. Its
neutral colour is green.

 The pH meter measures the pH of solutions precisely. Most general indicator papers or
indicator solutions can only be used to determine whether a solution/substance is acidic,
alkaline or neutral.