Chapter - 2

Acid, Base and Salt

Give names of acid, base and salt used in our daily
life and give importance of their aqueous solutions.
• Juice of sour fruits, juice of lemon, solution of tamarind (ambali) and
buttermilk used in our daily life are acids and hence their aqueous
solutions are acidic in nature.
• Baking soda, washing soda are bases and hence their aqueous
solutions are basic in nature.
• Whereas common salt is neutral and so its aqueous solution is neutral
in nature.
• Importance: The aqueous solutions of acids, bases and salts are very
important in biological systems and chemical industries.
What are the properties of an acid and a base?
• Properties of acid:
• Acids are sour in taste.
• Acids turn wet blue litmus paper into red.
• On reaction with metal, acid liberates hydrogen (H2) gas.
• Acid on reaction with a base gets neutralized and forms salt and water.

• Properties of base:
• Bases are bitter in taste.
• Bases turn red litmus paper into blue.
• Bases give no reaction with metal.
• Base on reaction with an acid gets neutralized and forms salt and water.
Indicators for testing acids and bases
• Indicators are the substances which give different colours in acidic or
basic solutions.
• Methyl Orange: Gives orange colour with acid solution and yellow colour
with base solutions.
• Phenolphthalein: It is colourless in acid solution while it turns into pink
colour in base solution.
• Litmus paper: Turns red in acid solution and turns blue in base solution
• Bromothymol blue: Turns blue in base solution and is yellow in acid solution
What are olfactory and gustatory indicators?
• An Olfactory indicator is a substance whose smell varies depending on
whether it is mixed with an acidic or basic solution.
• Olfactory indicators can be used in the laboratory to test whether a
solution is a base or an acid, a process called olfactory titration.
• Onion , clove oil and vanilla extract are examples.
• A Gustatory indicator is a substance whose taste varies depending on
whether it is mixed with an acidic or basic solution.
What are antacids? Give Examples.
• Antacids are mild alkalies (Base) and contain sodium hydrogen
carbonate (NaHCO3). They are used for getting relief from acidity and
indigestion and sometimes, even headache.
• When taken orally it reacts with hydrochloric acid present in the
stomach and reduces its strength. For example Milk of Magnesia
(Mg(OH)2).
What are acids and bases?
• An acid is a substance which dissolves in water to give hydronium ion,
H3O+ or H+ ion. A base is a substance which dissolves in water to give
hydroxyl ions, OH-.

Explain why does dry hydrochloric acid does not conduct

electricity but its aqueous solution conducts electricity.
• Electric current flows through the solution by ions. Since dry
hydrochloric acid does not give any ions, it does not conduct current.
-
• Whereas in the presence of water, H+ ions and Cl ions are produced
which are responsible for flow of current.
HCl + H2O → H3O+ + Cl-
How are acids and bases formed and from what?

• The reaction of oxide of non-metal with water forms acid.

In short, Oxide of non-metal + Water → Acid

• The reaction of oxides of metal with water forms base.

In short, Oxide of metal + Water → Base

Explain the chemical properties of acid.
(1) Reaction of acid with metal: By the reaction of acid with metal,
salt corresponding to metal and dihydrogen gas are produced. e.g,.

In short, Acid + Metal →Salt of metal + Dihydrogen gas

• Nitric acid (HNO3) being oxidizing agent, by reaction with metal,
produces water instead of dihydrogen.

• Generally noble metals like Au, Ag, and Pt do not react easily with
acid.
(2) Reaction of acid with base: Salt and water are formed by the reaction of
acid with base. This reaction is called neutralization reaction.

In short, Acid + Base → Salt + Water

(3) Reaction of acid with metal oxide: The reaction of acid with metal oxide
forms salt and water. e.g.,

In short, Acid + Metal oxide  Salt + Water

(4) Reaction of acid with metal carbonate or metal hydrogen carbonate:
Most of the acids produce salt, water and carbon dioxide by reaction with metal
carbonate or metal hydrogen carbonate.
Explain chemical properties of base.
(1) Reaction of base with acid: Reaction of base with acid forms salt
and water. This reaction is called neutralization. e.g.,

In short, Base + Acid  Salt + Water

(2) Reaction of base with non-metal oxide: Reaction of base with non-metal
forms salt and water. e.g.,

In short. Base + Non-metal  Salt + Water

(3) Reaction of base with some metals: By the reaction of strong base like
sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide with certain amphoteric metals (Zn,
Al) gives salt and hydrogen gas. e.g.,

In short, Base + Metal + Water → Salt + H2(g)

 Few more Reactions.
• 2Na + 2HCl → 2NaCl + H2
• Mg + 2HCl → MgCl2 + H2
• Zn + 2HCl → ZnCl2 + H2
• Fe + 2HCl → FeCl2 + H2
• Na2O + 2HCl → 2NaCl + H2O
Zn + 2NaOH → Na2ZnO2 (Sodium Zincate) + H2
NaOH + HCl → NaCl + H2O
H2SO4 + 2NaOH → Na2SO4 + 2H2O
CuO + 2HCl → CuCl + H O
2 2

• MgO + 2HCl → MgCl2 + H2O CO + Ca(OH) → CaCO + 2H O

2 2 3 2

• CuO + 2HCl → CuCl2 + H2O

• Na2CO3 + 2HCl → 2NaCl + H2O + CO2
• NaHCO3 + HCl → NaCl + H2O + CO2
• CaCO3 + 2HCl → CaCl2 + H2O + CO2
Tap water conducts electricity whereas distilled water
does not. Why?
• Tap water contains some impurities in the forms of salts. Due to
presence of salts, it conducts electricity. Distilled water is free from all
kinds of salts and hence does not conduct electricity.

Why does an aqueous solution of an acid conduct

electricity?
• Acids give ions in aqueous solutions and in solution current is carried
through ions. Thus aqueous solution of an acid conducts electricity
How are bases different from alkalies. Are all bases
alkalies?
• Bases generate hydroxide ions in water
H2O
• For example, NaOH Na+ + OH- Thus, NaOH, KOH and
Mg(OH)2 are bases.
• Alkalies are hydroxide of metal which dissolve in water. Thus NaOH,
KOH, Ca(OH)2 etc are alkalies.
• All bases are not alkalies. For example [Al(OH)3] is a base but it is not
fully soluble in water and so it not alkali.
Why do HCl, HNO3 etc., show acidic characters in aqueous
solutions while solutions of compounds like alcohol
and glucose do not show acidic character?
• H+ ions in aqueous solution are responsible for acidic character.
• HCl, HNO3 etc generate H+ ions in water while C2H5OH and glucose
do not do so, and hence do not show acidic character.

Why does an aqueous solution of an acid conduct

electricity?
• Acids give ions in aqueous solutions and in solution current is carried
through ions. Thus aqueous solution of an acid conducts electricity
• Why does dry HCl gas does not change the colour if the dry litmus paper?
• Dry HCl gas does not generate H+ ions and hence does not change the colour of dry litmus
paper.
• While diluting an acid, why is it recommended that the acid should be added
to water and not water to the acid.
• When an acid is mixed with water, there is evolution of large amount of heat. Therefore,
acid is slowly added to water.
• If on the other hand, water is added to acid, it might spill on body due to explosion and
evolution of sudden heat.
• How is the concentration of hydronium ion is affected when a solution of an
acid is diluted?
• When a given amount of an acid is added to water, there are fixed number of hydronium
ions per volume of the
• solution. On dilution the number of hydronium ion per volume decreases and concentration
of hydronium ion decreases.
• How is the concentration of hydroxide ions (OH-) affected when excess
base is dissolved in a solution of sodium hydroxide?
• The concentration of hydroxide ions will increase when excess base is dissolved in a
solution of sodium hydroxide but it happens to a limited extent only.
• What is a universal indicator?
• An indicator which passes through a series of colour changes over a wide range of
H3O+ ion concentration is called universal indicator.
• Explain: pH of solution and pH scale
• pH of solution: Hydrogen ion concentration [H+] plays an important role in chemical
and biochemical reactions. Some important reactions can be controlled by less
concentration of hydrogen ion.
• The concentration of hydrogen or hydronium ion [H3O+] in aqueous solution
mentioned in molarity is very less.
• To overcome the difficulties, arised for expressing concentration in molarity,
biochemist of Denmark, S.P.L. Sorensen suggested a simple and convenient method to
express concentration of hydronium ion in aqueous solution. It is known as pH scale.
 pH scale: Generally pH expresses the concentration of hydronium ion in aqueous solution.
 Mathematically pH is defined as "the negative logarithm to the base 10 of molar concentration of H3O+ in aqueous
solution."
 In short, pH = - log1o [H3O+]
 Distilled water is used as a solvent in aqueous solution.
 H3O+ and OH- ions are produced by selfionisation of water.
 Experimentally, it is proved that, at 298 K temperature in distilled water hydronium ion
[H3O+] = [OH-] = 1.0 × 10-7 M
∴ [H3O+] × [OH-] = 1.0 × 10-7 × 1.0 × 10-7
= 1.0 × 10-14 M
Taking log on both the sides,
Log10 [H3O+] + log10 [OH-] = -14 log10 (10)
∴ pH + pOH = 14 (pH= -log10 (H3O+) and pOH = -log10 (OH-))
 Thus, at 298 K the summation of pH and pOH of any aqueous solution is always
14.
 If the concentration of H3O+ in any aqueous solution decreases, then its pH
increases and if H3O+ concentration increases, then its pH decreases.
 So, for the acidity and basicity of any solution the concentration of H3O+ and OH- are responsible respectively.
 Thus, for any acidic solution the value of pH is less than 7.0, for neutral solution value of pH is 7.0 and for basic
solution value of pH is more than 7.0.
• If the pH of a solution is 5, does it mean that the solution has only
hydronium ions and no hydroxyl ions.
• In aqueous solution, there are always both H3O+ and OH- ions present.
• When the pH is less than seven i.e., 5, it means the solution is acidic and it contains
more number of H3O+ ions as compared to OH-.
• What is the pH of neutral water? What does it mean?
• The pH of a neutral water is 7. It means that the concentration of hydronium ions, H3O+
and hydroxyl ions, OH- is equal i.e., 10-7 moles per liter.
State different methods to measure the pH of aqueous solution.
• pH of aqueous solution can be measured by different methods.
• To measure approximate range of pH of aqueous solution, litmus paper or pH
paper or universal indicator is used whereas for exact pH measurement the
instrument called pH meter is used.
• To measure approximate pH range: Red and blue litmus papers are used to
measure approximate pH range of aqueous solution.
• If a blue litmus paper is dipped into a solution and if it turns red, then it can be said that the
aqueous solution has acidic pH and it ranges between 0 and 7.
• If a red litmus paper is dipped into a solution and if it turns blue, then it can be said that the
aqueous solution has basic pH and it ranges between 7 and 14.
• If there is no effect on red or blue litmus paper when dipped in aqueous solution, then the
solution is neutral and its pH is exactly 7.
• Uses:
• Acidic or basic medium is important for certain reactions in industry.
• Litmus paper becomes useful in test for the nature of solution.
• Approximate pH measurement: To measure approximate pH of aqueous
solution, pH paper or universal indicator is used.
• i) Use of pH paper: If pH paper is dipped into a solution, its pH value can be known.
• Generally, the pH paper is of very light yellow in color.
• The pH of a solution can be determined by noting the change in the colour of pH paper.
• The pH paper gives idea of the pH of solution with respect to the colour change on it which is given in fig.
• If the pH paper is dipped in an aqueous solution and if it turns pink, then the approximate pH of the
solution will be 2.
• If the pH paper turns light green, then the approximate pH of the solution will be 7.
• If the pH paper turns blue, then the approximate pH of the solution will be 10.
• ii) Use of universal indicator:
• One or two drops of universal indicator is added to a solution to know the value of pH, the
pH of the solution is determined from the colour of the solution obtained during the process.
• Which colour is obtained is noted and what will be its pH is obtained by comparing with the
colours shown on the bottle of indicator as shown in fig.
• Use: It is mostly used for measurement of approximate pH of the solution during chemical
reactions in industry and biochemical reactions.
• To measure exact pH:
• The instrument pH meter is used to determine the exact value of pH of aqueous
solution. Two electrodes of the pH meter are dipped in the solution whose exact
pH is to be determined. The reading that is shown by the needle of pH meter
indicates the exact pH of that solution.
• pH meter is standardized by a solution of known pH before it is used. Hence,
exact pH of unknown solution can be measured.
• The pH meter is an essential instrument for chemical industries.
Explain importance of pH in everyday life.
• Importance of pH in existence of living beings:
• The physiological reactions occurring in human body take place in the range of 7.0 to 7.8 pH.
• Other living beings are not able to bear more change in pH. e.g., when the acid rain water mixes into water
reservoirs like river or pond, the pH of their water decreases. The existence of aquatic life kingdom like fish,
microorganisms and aquatic vegetation are being risked.
• Importance of pH in digestion of food:
• We know that stomach plays an important role in the digestion of food.
• As the food enters the stomach, hydrochloric acid (HCl) is secreted in the stomach. The pH of this acid
changes between 1 and 3. At this low value of pH the enzyme named pepsin becomes active. It becomes
helpful in the digestion of protein in the food.
• The proportion of protein is much more in food like fish, eggs, meat, etc. Hydrochloric acid is secreted more
for digestion of such food. Because of this, sometimes there is pain or irritation in stomach, which we
commonly call as 'acidity'.
• Basic substances are taken for the remedy of the acidity, which are known as antacids. Mostly, sodium
hydrogen carbonate (Baking soda – NaHCO3) and magnesium hydroxide (Milk of magnesia - Mg (OH)2) are
used as antacids.
• Over and above, calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and aluminum hydroxide (Al(OH)3) are also known as antacid
substances.
• Importance of PH in soil:
• The soil whose pH is between 6.5 and 7.3, the growth and development of shrubs is good in
such soil.
• The soil having pH value less than 6.5 is called acidic soil. The farmers add lime (CaO3) to the
soil to neutralize this soil.
• The soil whose pH is more than 7.3 is called alkaline (basic) soil. The farmers add gypsum
(CaSO4.2H2O) to neutralize this soil.
• Importance of pH in stopping decay of teeth:
• When the pH of the inner side of the mouth is less than 5.5, the decay of teeth take place.
• The outer layer of teeth is made up of hard substance like calcium phosphate (Ca3(PO4)2). It
does not dissolve in water, but gets decayed when pH of inner side of mouth becomes less than
5.5.
• Acid is produced by decomposition of particles of food and saccharides by bacteria inside the
mouth after taking meals. It decreases the pH inside the mouth. Hence, decay of teeth takes
place.
• To protect your teeth, good habit should be formed to clean the teeth after taking meals.
• The tooth powder and toothpaste that are used for teeth cleaning possess basic nature. They
neutralize the acid produced inside the mouth and protect teeth from decay.
• In the remedy of effect of bite of honeybee:
• We know that when a red ant bites we feel irritation. The reason for this is the entry of
formic acid in our body.
• Similarly, when the honeybee bites, we feel pain and irritation at the place of bite.
Moreover, there is swelling around the place of bite because the poison that is entered
our body by the bite of honeybee is acidic which contains Melittin.
• Melittin is a polypeptide containing 26 amino acids. To get relief from the effect of
bite of honeybee, aqueous solution of basic substance like baking soda is applied
around the place of bite, which neutralizes the acidic poison.
• Some naturally occurring acids.
• Do basic solutions also have H+ ions? If yes than why are they basic?
• Basic solutions have H+ ions, but these are far less in number than OH- ions and that excess
of OH- ions counts for their basic nature.
• Under what soil condition do you think a farmer would treat the soil of his
fields with slaked lime (calcium hydroxide), chalk (calcium carbonate), quick
lime (calcium oxide)
• Plants work well in the pH range 6 – 8. So when the soil becomes acidic, farmers treat the
soil fields with bases like quick lime or slaked lime.
• How are salts formed? What determines their pH value in aqueous solutions?
• Salts are formed by combination of acids and bases. For example salt of sodium sulphate,
Na2SO4 is formed by reaction of sulphuric acid with sodium hydroxide.
• Salts of strong acid and a strong base are neutral with pH value of 7. Whereas salts of strong
acid and weak base are acidic with pH value less than 7 and those of a strong base and weak
acid are basic in nature with pH value more than 7.
Explain family of salts with example
• Sodium salts: sodium sulphate, sodium chloride, sodium nitrate, sodium
carbonate
• Potassium salts: potassium sulphate, potassium nitrate
• Calcium salts: calcium nitrate, calcium sulphate, calcium carbonate
• Copper salts: Copper sulphate, copper chloride
• Ammonium salts: Ammonium nitrate, Ammonium chloride
• Chloride salts: Sodium chloride, calcium chloride, ammonium chloride, copper
chloride
• Sulphate salts: Potassium sulphate, sodium sulphate, calcium sulphate,
magnesium sulphate, copper sulphate, zinc sulphate
• Nitrate Salts: Potassium nitrate, calcium nitrate, sodium nitrate, ammonium
nitrate
• Carbonate salts: Sodium carbonate, calcium carbonate
Give some important uses of sodium chloride
• It is an essential constituent of our daily life and us used for making
food items.
• It is used in the manufacture of soap.
• Mixed with ice, it is used as freezing mixture.
• It is used as a preservative for meat, fish and pickles.
• It is used for the industrial preparation of compounds like hydrochloric
acid, washing soda, caustic soda etc.