The Origin of Acid

Key Notes:
 Scientists developed the word ‘acid’ from ‘acidus’, which is
the Latin word for ‘sour’.
 Most people think of acids as corrosive liquids that fizz
(produces bubbles of gas and make a hissing sound) when
they come in contact with solids and burn when they touch
the skin
 Some acids are not corrosive and are found in our food.
Acids:
Acids can be defined as a group of
chemicals with a sour taste. An acid is a
substance that has a pH lower than 7.

Examples of Acids are; Hydrochloric acid

(HCl), sulphuric acid (H2SO4), citric acid,
ethanoic acid [Also known as Vinegar
(CH3COOH) ]
Majorly, examples of acids can be grouped into two categories
based on:
• Type of origin

Acids with plant origin Acids with animal origin

Citric acid in orange and lemon Hydrochloric acid in the

mammalian stomach

Tartaric acid in grapes The lactic acid in muscles during

vigorous exercise

Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) in Uric acid in Urine

citrus fruits and blackcurrants

Methanoic acid in nettle stings Methanoic acid in ant stings

• Nature of acid
Organic acids Inorganic acids
Organic acids are usually Inorganic acids are generally
weak acids and insoluble stronger acids and soluble in
in water water

Examples of organic acids Sulphuric acid and

are citric acid and acetic hydrochloric acid are
acid examples of inorganic acids.
Note:

• Ethanoic acid (acetic acid) is found in vinegar and produces

wine that becomes sour.

• The wine contains ethanol and also has some oxygen dissolved
in it from the air. The oxygen reacts with the ethanol and
converts it to ethanoic acid. This chemical reaction happens
more quickly if the wine bottle is left uncorked.

• The acids produced by plants and animals (except for

hydrochloric acid) are known as organic acids.
• Inorganic acids are also known as mineral acids and they are
not produced by living things and their discovery began with
the works of chemists such as Geber. The first mineral acid
to be discovered was nitric acid, which was used to separate
silver and gold. When the acid was applied to a mixture of
the two metals it dissolved the silver but not the gold. Later,
sulfuric acid and then hydrochloric acid was discovered.
PROPERTIES OF ACIDS

• Acids have a sour taste eg vinegar

• Acids are electrolytes because they dissolve in water to

form ions which conduct electricity.

• Acids turn blue litmus paper red.

• pH value less than 7.

• If concentrated they can be corrosive

• Acids react with reactive metals to form hydrogen gas and a salt.
Metal + Acid = Salt + Hydrogen; E.g Magnesium Ribbon with Dilute
sulphuric acid — Mg(s) + (H2SO4)(aq) = MgSO4(aq) + H2(g)

• All acids will react with any alkali or base to form salt and water only.
The reaction is known as the neutralization reaction.
Acid + Alkalis = salt and water; E.g Hydrochloric acid react with sodium
hydroxide to form salt and water only — HCl + NaOH = NaCl + H2O

• Acids react with carbonates to form salt, carbon dioxide and water.
Acid + Carbonate = Salt + Carbon Dioxide + Water
USES OF ACIDS

- Sulphuric Acid:
• For making Detergents
• In Car Batteries
• Production of fertilizers such as ammonium sulphate,
potassium sulphate, and calcium sulphate
• Manufacture non-soapy detergents
• Make artificial silks like rayon
• Remove oxide from iron and steel before galvanising or
electroplating
- Ethanoic Acid:
• As vinegar to preserve food
• As adhesives (glue)

- Hydrochloric Acid:
• Cleaning metals
• Leather processing
The Origin of Alkalis
The word alkali was developed from al-qaliy, which is an
Arabic word that means “the ashes”

Alkalis: Alkalis can be defined as a group of chemicals

with a soapy feel. They are formed when a base is
dissolved in water. An Alkali is a substance that has a
pH higher than 7.

Examples of Alkalis: Sodium hydroxide (NaOH),

Potassium Hydroxide (KOH) and Calcium Hydroxide
Uses of Alkalis
• Sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide solution
are examples of alkalis that are used in laboratories.
• Calcium hydroxide also called slaked lime is used in
many industries to make products such as bleach and
whitewash.
• A weak solution of calcium hydroxide that is used in
laboratories known as limewater
• It is used to test for carbon dioxide gas. If this
gas passes through limewater, it turns the
limewater milky.
• A concentrated solution of an alkali is corrosive and
can burn the skin. The same hazard symbol as the one
used for acids.
• Even dilute sodium hydroxide solution reacts with
fats on the surface of the skin and changes it into
substances found in soap.
• Many household cleaners used on metal floors and
ovens contain alkalis and must be handled with great
care.
Neutral Substances: Substances which are neither an
acid nor an alkali are neutral.

How to identify whether a substance is an acid,

alkali or neutral?
This is achieved by the used of substances called
indicators

Indicators: Substances used to identify whether

unknown solutions are acidic, neutral or alkaline.
Brief History about indicators
Robert Boyle was an Irish scientist who lived over 300
years ago. He studied acids and alkalis and decided to
try and find an easy way to identify them. It all
started when he knew that in France, workers who
made silk clothes dyed them with the juices of plants
and he began testing the plant juices to see if they
would solve this problem.
• When acid is added to red cabbage juice, it turns
from purple to red.
• When alkali is added, the juice turns from purple to
green.
• He also found that juices from violet turned purple
with acid and greenish-yellow with an alkali
There are 20 indicators that scientists use. Here are
some of them:
1. Litmus (Liquid or paper)
• Litmus indicator solution turns red in acidic solutions
and blue in alkaline solutions. It turns purple in
neutral solutions
• Litmus solution is purple
• Litmus paper for testing an acid is blue
• Litmus paper for testing an alkali is red
 Red Blue
Litmus Litmus
Acidic Solution Stays red Turns red

Neutral Solution Stays red Stays blue

Alkaline Solution Turns blue Stays blue

Using litmus indicator to show if a substance
is an acid, alkali or neutral
2. The pH scale:
It uses Universal Indicator to show how acidic or alkaline
a solution is:
• Acids have a pH of less than 7 and turn universal
indicator red, orange or yellow.
• Alkalis have a pH of more than 7 and turn Universal
Indicator dark green, blue or purple.
• A solution which is neither acidic nor alkaline is
described as being neutral and has a pH of 7. Neutral
substances turn Universal Indicator green.
Neutralization:
This is the process in which salt and water only are
formed when an acid reacts with an alkali.
A typical neutralization reaction is:
Acid + Alkali = Salt + Water
Example:
Hydrochloric acid (HCl) + Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) =
Sodium chloride (NaCl) + Water (H2O)
Acid Alkali Salt and water solution
1. Mix identical volumes of acids and alkali which are The
same concentration
2. Check that solution is neutral.
3. If the solution is still acidic, add more alkali, if the
solution is still alkaline, add more acid.
Neutralisation can be used as a remedy for stings and to
reduce the damage caused to teeth by acid in the mouth.
THE END