ACIDS AND BASES

ACIDS AND BASES DEFINITION

 An acid is any hydrogen-containing substance that is

capable of donating a proton (hydrogen ion) to
another substance. A base is a molecule or ion able
to accept a hydrogen ion from an acid.
 Acidic substances are usually identified by their
sour taste. An acid is basically a molecule which can
donate an H+ ion and can remain energetically
favorable after a loss of H+. Acids are known to turn
blue litmus red.
 Bases, on the other hand, are characterized by a
bitter taste and a slippery texture. A base that can be
dissolved in water is referred to as an alkali. When
these substances chemically react with acids, they
yield salts. Bases are known to turn red litmus blue.
PROPERTIES OF ACIDS AND BASES

Properties of Acids
1. Acids are corrosive in nature.
2. They are good conductors of electricity.
3. Their pH values are always less than 7.
4. When reacted with metals, these substances produce hydrogen gas.
5. Acids are sour in taste.
6. Examples: Sulfuric acid [H2SO4], Hydrochloric acid [HCl], Acetic acid [CH3COOH].
PROPERTIES OF ACIDS AND BASES

Properties of Bases
 Some properties, like a bitter taste, are owned by all bases. The bases feel slippery, too. Dream on what
slippery soap looks like. They are found to have a soapy texture when touched.
1. These substances release hydroxide ions (OH– ions) when dissolved in water.
2. In their aqueous solutions, bases act as good conductors of electricity.
3. The pH values corresponding to bases are always greater than 7.
4. Bases are bitter-tasting substances which have the ability to turn red litmus paper blue.
5. Examples: Sodium hydroxide [NaOH], milk of magnesia [Mg(OH)2], calcium hydroxide [Ca(OH)2].
Neutral Substances
 The neutral substance is a substance which is not acidic or basic, has the same amount of hydrogen
and hydroxyl ions, and does not alter the color of the litmus surface.
1. These substances do not display any acidic or basic characteristics.
2. Their pH values approximate to 7.
3. Neutral substances have no effect on red or blue litmus paper.
4. The pH of pure water is exactly 7.
5. Examples:Water, Common salt (NaCl)
STRONG AND WEAK ACIDS AND BASES

 Solutions are classified as acidic or basic based on their hydrogen ion concentration relative to pure
water.
1. Strong Acids and Bases – those that re completely ionized
2.Weak Acids and Bases – partially ionized in aqueous solution, that is, some of the molecular
forms still exist.
▪ H+ shifts away from neutral when an acid or base is added to an aqueous (water-based) solution. For
our purposes, an acid is a substance that increases the concentration of hydrogen ions (H+ in a
solution, usually by donating one of its hydrogen atoms through dissociation.
▪ A base, in contrast, raises pH by providing hydroxide (OH-) or another ion or molecule that scoops
up hydrogen ions and removes them from solution.
THE PH SCALE

 The pH scale is used to rank solutions in terms

of acidity or basicity (alkalinity).
 The pH scale is often said to range from 0 to
14, and most solutions do fall within this range,
although it’s possible to get a pH below 0 or
above 14. Anything below 7.0 is acidic, and
anything above 7.0 is alkaline, or basic.