Acids and Bases

Chapter 7
 A. Acids and Bases

A chemical substance
which ionises in water
to form hydrogen ions,
H+ (or hydroxonium
ions, H3O+)
H2O

HX → H+ + X-
• When hydrogen chloride, HCl molecule
dissolves in water and ionises to produce
hydrogen ion, H+ and chloride ion, Cl-

HCl + H2O → H3O+ + Cl-

Or can write as
H2O
HCl → H+ + Cl-
 Exercise:
Write the equation for the ionization of the
following substance in water

Name Compound Ionization equation

formulae
Nitric acid
Sulphuric acid
Ethanoic acid CH3COOH
Phosporic acid H3PO4
Methanoic acid HCOOH
• Type of acids:
Basicity: the number of hydrogen ions, H+ which can be
produced by one molecule of the acid

Basicity Meaning
Monoprotic acid An acid that produces one mol hydrogen
ion per molecule acid in the water,
CH3COOH → H+ + CH3COO-

Diprotic acid An acid that produces two mol hydrogen

ion per molecule acid in the water,
H2CO3 → 2H+ + CO32-
 Bases
A chemical substance
which ionises in water to
produce hydroxide ions,
OH-

Examples of bases:
Most bases are
• Metal oxide, eg; ZnO,
CuO, CaO not soluble in
• Metal hydroxide, eg; zinc water
hydroxide, ZnOH
 ALKALI
S
A base that is soluble in
water

Ionization equation:
H2O

MOH → Mn+ + OH-

• Potassium hydroxide, KOH dissolves in water
and ionises to produce hydroxide ion, OH- and
potassium ion, K+
H2O
KOH → K+ + OH-
 Exercise:
Write the equation for the ionization of the
following substance in water
Name Compound Ionization equation
formulae
Sodium
hydroxide
Potassium
hydroxide
Ammonium
hydroxide
Magnesium
hydroxide
Ammonia gas
Uses of acids, bases and alkalis
 Role of WATER to show
the properties of acids and bases
• Acids show their acidic • Alkalis show their properties
properties ONLY when ONLY when dissolved in water.
dissolved in water. • Alkalis will ionise in water,
• Acids will ionise in water, producing hydroxide ions, OH-.
producing hydrogen ions, H+. • Other solvent CANNOT replace
• Other solvent CANNOT replace water to enable an alkali to
water to enable an acid to show its properties.
show its properties.

Acids Bases
In the absence of water (dry
form) or in organic solvent;
 The ions in acids/alkali are
held by strong electrostatic
force.
 It do not ionise/dissociate
to form hydrogen ions, H+ /
hydroxide ion
 It remain in molecules, not
free ions.
In water ;
 Acid/alkali
ionise/dissociate in water
to produces hydrogen ions,
H+ / hydroxide ion that
freely moved.
 The presence of hydrogen
ions/hydroxide ions show
the acidic/alkali properties.
 Physical properties of acids and alkalis
ACID ALKALIS
• Tastes sour • Tastes bitter
• Turns moist blue litmus • Turns moist red litmus
paper to red paper to blue
• pH value of less than 7 • pH value of above than 7
CHEMICAL
PROPERTIES OF
ACIDS AND ALKALIS
 Chemical Properties of Acid
• This chemical properties can be used to
identify the presence of an acid.
• Types of chemical reactions:
(a) Reaction of acids with reactive metal
(b) Reaction of acids with metal carbonate
(c) Reaction of acids with bases / alkalis
 (a) Reaction of acids with reactive metal

• Produces salt and hydrogen gas.

• Metal, M must more electropositive (upper
part) than hydrogen in the Electrochemical
Series.
• Chemical equation:
metal acid salt hydrogen gas
M + HX → MX + H2
Try this: (write the chemical equation)

a) Zinc + hydrochloric acid

b) Magnesium + nitric acid
c) Calcium + hydrochloric acid
d) Zinc + sulphuric acid
 QUESTION:
Describe one chemical test that can be used to identify the
presence of an acid.

Procedures:
1. Pour [2 – 5] cm3 of hydrochloric acid solution into a test tube.
2. Add magnesium powder into the test tube.
3. Put a burning wooden splinter near the mouth of the test tube.
4. Record the observation.

Chemical equations:
Mg + 2HCl → MgCl2 + H2

Observation:
Colourless bubble gas release. A “pop” sound heard

Conclusion:
Hydrogen gas produces

Other Metal: Magnesium strip, Zinc powder/strip

(b) Reaction of acids with metal carbonate

• Produces salt, water and carbon dioxide gas.

• Chemical equation:

MCO32- + HX → MX + H2O + CO2

metal carbonate acid salt water carbon dioxide
gas
 Try this:
a) Copper(II) carbonate + hydrochloric acid
b) Magnesium carbonate + nitric acid
c) Iron(II) carbonate + nitric acid
d) Zinc carbonate + sulphuric acid
 QUESTION:
Describe one chemical test that can be used to identify the
presence of an acid.

Procedures:
1. Pour 3 cm3 of hydrochloric acid solution into a test tube.
2. Add calcium carbonate powder into the test tube.
3. Pass through the gas liberated into lime water.

Chemical equations:
2HCl + CaCO3 → CaCl2 + CO2 + H2O

Observation:
Colourless bubble gas release.
Lime water turns chalky/cloudy

Conclusion:
Carbon dioxide gas produces
 (c) Reaction of acids with bases / alkalis

• Produces salt and water.

• Chemical equation:

MO / MOH + HX → MX + H2O
bases / alkalis acid salt water
 Try this:
a) Potassium oxide + hydrochloric acid
b) Sodium hydroxide + nitric acid
c) Barium hydroxide + hydrochloric acid
d) Zinc oxide + sulphuric acid
 Chemical Properties of Alkalis
• Types of chemical reactions:
(a) Reaction of alkalis with ammonium salt
and heated
(b) Reaction of alkalis with metal ion
(c) Reaction of alkalis with acid
(a) Reaction of alkalis with ammonium salt

• Heated and produces ammonia gas.

• Chemical equation:

NH4+X + MOH → MX + NH3 + H2O

Ammonium salt alkalis salt ammonia gas

Observation:
Colourless bubble gas release;
Pungent smell
 Try this:
a) Ammonium sulphate + potassium hydroxide
b) Calcium hydroxide + ammonium chloride
c) Ammonium chloride + sodium hydroxide
d) Barium hydroxide + ammonium nitrate
 (b) Reaction of alkalis with metal ion

• Most metal hydroxides are insoluble in water.

• The reactions of metal ions with the
hydroxides ion produce precipitation of
insoluble metal hydroxide.
• Chemical equation:

M+1X- + M+2OH- → M+1OH- + M+2X-

 Try this:
a) Copper(II) chloride + potassium hydroxide
b) Iron(II) sulphate + potassium hydroxide
c) Iron(II) chloride + potassium hydroxide
d) Calcium chloride + potassium hydroxide
 (c) Reaction of alkalis with acids

• Neutralization reaction.
• Produces salt, MX and water.
• Chemical equation:

HX + MOH → MX + H2O
acid alkalis salt water
B. The Strength of Acids and Alkalis
• The present of an acid and alkali can be tested
using indicator.
 The pH Scale
• Numerical scale that has a range between 1 to
14
• It shows whether an aqueous solution is
acidic, neutral or alkaline
• It determines the degree of acidity or
alkalinity of an aqueous solution
 Concentration of OH- ions increases

Concentration of H+ ions increases

The pH value is a measure of concentration of hydrogen ion, H+

and hydroxide ions, OH-

 The lower pH value, the higher the concentration of H+ ions,

the higher its acidity
 The higher pH, value, the higher the concentration of OH-
ions, the higher its alkalinity
• The pH value of solutions can be measured
using indicators such as methyl orange,
phenolphthalein, universal indicator and pH
meter
 Degree of Dissociation
• The strength of an acid or alkali depends on its
degree of dissociation (ionisation) in aqueous
solution
• Can divide by 2 types of acids and alkalis –
strong and weak
 Strong acids
• Meaning:
An acid which ionises completely in water to
produce high concentration hydrogen ions, H+
• Ionization equation:
HCl → H+ + Cl-

 Produces high concentration of H+

ions
 Has high degree of dissociation
 Low pH value
 Weak acids
• Meaning:
An acid which ionises partially in water to
produce low concentration hydrogen ions, H+
• Ionization equation:
CH3COOH H+ + CH3COO-

 Produces low concentration of H+

ions
 Has low degree of dissociation
 High pH value
 Strong alkalis
• Meaning:
An alkali which ionises completely in water to
produce high concentration hydroxide ions,
OH-
• Ionization equation:
KOH → K+ + OH-
 Produces high concentration of OH- ions
 Has high degree of dissociation
 High pH value
 Weak alkalis
• Meaning:
An alkali which ionises partially in water to
produce low concentration hydroxide ions,
OH-
• Ionization equation:
NH3 + H2O NH4+ + OH-
 Produces low concentration of OH-
ions
 Has low degree of dissociation
 Low pH value
 C. Concentrations of Acids and Alkalis
• The CONCENTRATION of a solution:
The quantity of solute in 1 dm3 of solution
• The quantity of solute can be measured in
grams or moles
• Concentration can be defined as:
Concentration Mass of solute (g)
=
(g/dm3) Volume of solution (dm3)

Concentration Number of moles of solute (mol)

=
(mol/dm3) Volume of solution (dm3)
• Concentration can be expressed in
 g dm-3
 mol dm-3
• Concentration unit that widely used is MOLARITY
(mol dm-3) or molar concentration (M)
• MOLARITY:
The number of moles of solute that present in 1
dm3 of solution
Unit Conversion
 Formula

x Molar mass
Molarity Concentration
(mol dm-3) (g dm-3)
÷ Molar mass
Solving Numerical Problems
 Relationship between number of moles with
molarity and volume of a solution

Calculating Involving Concentration and Molarity

 Preparation of standard solutions
• Standard solution:
A solution in which its concentration is
accurately known
• can be prepared by using volumetric flask
Preparation of a solution by dilution method
 Formula of dilution method
Adding water to a concentrated solution change the
concentration of the solution but does not change the amount of
solute present in the solution

Ma Va = Mb Vb

Molarity of solution Volume of solution

before water is after water is added
added
Molarity of
Volume of solution solution after
before water is added water is added
 D. Neutralization
• Neutralization:
Reaction between an acid and a alkali to produce a
salt and water

ACID + BASE → SALT + WATER

Chemical equation:
HX + MOH → MX + H2O
eg: NaOH + HCl → NaCl + H2O
 Neutralization in our daily lives

Your brother’s hand is stung by wasp.

What should you apply to his hand to relieve the
pain without causing further injury? Explain why.
Tangan adik anda disengat oleh tebuan.
Apakah yang harus anda sapu pada tangannya
untuk mengurangkan kesakitan tanpa
menyebabkan kecederaan lebih teruk? Terangkan
mengapa.
[3 marks]
 Answer
1. Vinegar
2. Wasp sting is alkali
3. Vinegar can neutralize wasp sting
 Acid-base titration
• Titration:
A process to determine the volume of acid needed to
neutralise a known volume of alkali
• Concept of titration:
An acid of known concentration is carefully delivered
from burette to completely neutralise a known volume of
alkali and a few drop of indicator in a conical flask
• End point:
The point at which volume of acid completely neutralise
the alkali
Acid-base titration
 Titration using
phenolphthalein

Pink colour solution turn colourless

 Solve numerical problem involving
neutralization reaction
• Step 1:
write the balanced equation
aACID + bBASES → SALTS + WATER

• Step 2:
write the information and question from the question

• Step 3:
Identify number of moles of substance involved; value for
a and b
• Step 4:
Use the formulae:
Ma = acid concentration
Ma V a a Va = acid volume
= Mb = alkali concentration
Mb Vb b
Vb = alkali volume
a = no. of mole acid
b = no. of mole alkali