Chapter 7

Acids and Bases are found in food, things

that we use and can be found in our
environment
A. Acids and Bases

 Acids
1. Two types of acids:
a) organic acids
- exist naturally in all organism. They are weak
acids. Exp: ethanoic acid (CH3COOH) and
methanoic acid (HCOOH)
b) inorganic acids
- Known as mineral acids, are non-metallic oxides
which dissolve in water. Exp: hydrochloric acid
(HCl) and sulphuric acid (H2SO4)
 According to Arrhenius Theory

“acids are compounds which produce

hydrogen ions, H+, or hydroxonium ions,
H3O+, when they dissolve in water.”

Or

“an acid is a chemical substance which

ionises in water to produce hydrogen ions,
H+ “
 For example, hydrochloric acid dissociates in
water as follows :
HCl(aq)  H+ (aq) + Cl- (aq)
 H+ ions dissolve in water to form H3O+ ions
H+ (aq) + H2O (l)  H3O+ (aq)
 Sometimes we called it hydration of hydrogen
ions.
 However H3O+ ions are written in shorts as
H+ ions, for example:
HNO3 (aq) + H2O (l)  H3O+ (aq) + NO3- (aq)
In short :
HNO3 (aq)  H+ (aq) + NO3- (aq)
Bases and Alkalis

 According to Arrhenius,
“A base is a substance which produces
hydroxide ions (OH-) when it dissolves in
water.”

Or
“A base is a chemical substance which
ionises in water to produce hydroxide ions,
OH- “
 All oxides and hydroxides of metals are bases.
 A base which is soluble in water is called an alkali.
 Most metallic oxide - do not dissolve in water
- except K2O and Na2O
- CaO is slightly soluble in
water.
- They form KOH, NaOH and
Ca(OH)2.
 Most hydroxide - not soluble in water
- except KOH, NaOH and Ca(OH)2
 In the presence of water, the three soluble
hydroxide or alkalis dissociates into a cation
and OH- ion.
+ H2O
KOH(s) K+(aq) + OH- (aq)
+ H2O
NaOH(s) Na+(aq) + OH- (aq)
+ H2O
Ca(OH)2(s) Ca2+(aq) + 2OH- (aq)

 Ammonia molecule, NH3 dissolves in water,

ionisation take place to produce a hydroxide
ion, OH-.

NH3(aq) + H2O(l) NH4+(aq) + OH- (aq)

Uses of acids , bases and alkalis

Substance Uses
Acids
 Sulphuric acid To make detergents, paints, fertilisers
As electrolyte in lead-acid accumulator

 Hydrochloric acid To clean metals before electroplating in

industry
 Nitric acid To make fertilisers, plastics, explosives

 Ethanoic acid To make vinegar

 Methanoic acid To coagulate latex in the rubber industry

 Carbonic acid To make fizzy drink.

Uses of acids , bases and alkalis

Substance Uses
Bases and alkalis
 Ammonia To make fertilisers, cleaning agents
(aqueous) To manufacture nitric acid

To keep latex in liquid form

 Magnesium hydroxide To make gas mixtures and gastric tablets,

and toothpaste
 Calcium hydroxide To make cement, limewater
To neutralise acidity of soil

 Sodium hydroxide To make detergents, soaps, fertilisers and

bleaching agents
Role of water in the formation of
hydrogen ions
 An acid can only exhibit its acidic
characteristics in the presence of water.
 In water, an acid ionises to form hydrogen
ions, H+.
 H+ combine with water to form hydroxonium
ions or H3O+.
 In organic solvents, hydrogen chloride exists
as HCl molecules but in water, it exists as H+
and Cl- ions.
Role of water in the formation of
hydroxide ions
 The characteristics of akalis are only shown
in the presence of water because, in water,
alkalis ionise to form hydroxide ions, OH-.
 In the presence of water, alkalis ionises as
follow :
NaOH  Na+ + OH-
 In the form of solid or if dissolved in organic
solvents, alkalis cannot exhibit their alkaline
characteristics as they are in the form of
molecules, not ions
Properties of Acids

 All acids have a sour taste.

 Acidic solutions give a pH value of less than
7.
 The chemical properties of acids are as
follows:
1. React with active metals to produce a salt and hydrogen
gas.
Mg + H2SO4  MgSO4 + H2
Properties of Acids
 The chemical properties of acids are as
follows:
2. They release carbon dioxide from carbonates.
CuCO3 + H2SO4  CuSO4 + H2O + CO2
3. They react with bases and alkalis to form a salt and
water
Ca(OH)2 + H2SO4  CaSO4 + 2H2O
 All aqueous solutions of acids decompose
during electrolysis to form hydrogen at the
cathode
2H+ + 2e-  H2
Properties of Acids

 The presence Indicator

Colour of Indicator
of an acid is Neutral Acidic
tested by
Litmus paper Purple Red
using the
following Methyl orange Orange Red
indicators.
Phenolphthalein Colourless Colourless

Universal
Green Red
Indicator
Properties of Alkalis
Colour of
 Alkalis have a bitter Indicator Indicator
taste and are soapy to Neutral Alkalis
touch. Litmus paper Purple Blue
 Their pH value is
greater than 7 Methyl orange Orange Yellow
 The presence of an
alkali is tested by using Colourl
Phenolphthalein Pink
ess
the following indicators.
Universal
Indicator
Green Blue
The chemical properties of alkalis

 Alkalis react with acids to form salts and

water.
NaOH + HNO3  NaNO3 + H2O
NH4OH + HCl  NH4Cl + H2O
 When alkali is heated with an ammonium
salt, salt, water and ammonia gas is
produced
NaOH + NH4Cl  NaCl + H2O + NH3
 Most metal hydroxide are insoluble in water.
It will produce precipitate when alkali react
with most metal ion solution.
2OH- (aq) + Cu2+ (aq)  Cu(OH)2 (s)
blue precipitate
Monoprotic and Diprotic Acid

 Monoprotic – acids which ionizes in water to

produce 1 mol of H+ ion
 HCl (aq)  H+ (aq) + Cl- (aq)
 CH3COOH (aq)  CH3COO- (aq) + H+ (aq)

 Diprotic - acids which ionizes in water to

produce 2 mol of H+ ion
 H2SO4 (aq)  2H+ (aq) + SO42- (aq)
Types of acid Examples
Monoprotic acid Hydrochloric acid – HCl
(Monobasic) Nitric acid – HNO3
Ethanoic acid – CH3COOH
Methanoic acid – HCOOH

Diprotic acid Sulphuric acid – H2SO4

(Dibasic) Ethydioic – H2C2O4
Carbonic acid – H2CO3
Chromic acid – H2CrO4