Acids, Bases,

& Salts
 Indicators- tell us whether a substance is
acidic or basic-
• Litmus solution is a purple dye, which is
extracted from lichen and is commonly used as
an indicator.
Acid- red Neutral- unchanged Base- blue
• Phenolphthalein solution
Acid- Colourless Neutral- colourless Base- Pink
• Methyl orange solution
Acid- red Neutral- Orange Base- Yellow
 Olfactory indicators are based on the
sensation of smell to identify the nature of the
substance.
• Onion: It loses its characteristic smell in
basic solution and retains its smell in Acidic
solution.
• Vanilla: It loses its smell in basic solution
and retains its smell in Acidic solution.
• Clove: Even clove loses its smell in basic
solution and retains its smell in Acidic
solution.
 THE CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF
ACIDS AND BASES
1. Reaction of Acids and Bases with Metals
Acid/Base + Metal → Salt + Hydrogen gas
Eg-
2NaOH (aq) + Zn (s) → Na2ZnO2 (s) + H2 (g)
(Sodium zincate)
Zn (s) + H2SO4 (aq) → ZnSO4 (s)+ H2 (g)
(Zinc sulphate)
 2. Reaction of Metal Carbonates and Metal
Hydrogencarbonates React with Acids
Metal carbonate/Metal hydrogencarbonate + Acid
→ Salt + Carbon dioxide + Water
Eg-
Na2CO3 (s) + 2HCl (aq) → 2NaCl (aq) + H2O (l) +
CO2 (g)

NaHCO3(s) + HCl (aq) → NaCl (aq) + H2O (l) +

CO2 (g)
CO2 turns limewater milky
3. Acids and Bases React with each other
Base + Acid → Salt + Water
Eg-
NaOH (aq) + HCl (aq) → NaCl (aq) + H2O (l)
• The reaction between an acid and a base to
give a salt and water is known as a
Neutralisation reaction.
• The effect of a base is nullified by an acid
and vice-versa.
4. Reaction of acids with oxides of metals
Metal oxide + Acid → Salt + Water
Eg-
Fe2O3 (s) + 6HCl (aq) → 2FeCl3 (aq) + 3H2O (l)

CuO(s) + 2HCl (aq) → CuCl2 (aq) + H2O (l)

Blue green colour
• Similar to the reaction of a base with an acid,
metallic oxides are said to be basic oxides.
 5. Reaction of a Non-metallic Oxide with Base
Non Metal oxide + Base → Salt + Water
Eg-
CO2 (g) + Ca(OH)2 (aq) → H2O (l) + CaCO3 (s)
(Lime water) (White precipitate)
• we can conclude that non metallic oxides are acidic in
nature
• On passing excess carbon dioxide the following reaction
takes place:
CaCO3 (s) + H2O (l) + CO2 (g) → Ca(HCO3)2 (aq)
Soluble in water
Electrolysis of acids and bases
• The electric current is carried
through the acidic solution by
H+ ions
• Acids and Bases conduct
electricity in aqueous
solution.
Acid or Base in a Water Solution
• Acids react with water to give H+ ions or hydronium
ions (H3O+) in water.

• Bases react with water to give hydroxide ions (OH-)

• The reaction of acid or base with water is highly

exothermic.

• Heat generated may cause the mixture to splash out

and cause burns. The glass container may also break
due to excessive heat.
H++ H2O → H3O+

HCl + H2O → H3O+ + Cl–

NaOH (s) → Na+ (aq) + OH– (aq)

Neutralization reaction-

Acid + Base → Salt + Water

X + M OH → MX + HOH
HX

H+ (aq) + OH– (aq) → H2O (l)

 Concentration VS Strength of
Solutions
• Mixing an acid or base
• The pH scale can help us
with water results in
classify solutions as acids
decrease in the
or bases
concentration of ions
• pH is a measure of the
(H3O+/OH–) per unit
amount of H+ ions in a
volume. Such a process is
solution (potential
called dilution and the
hydrogen) 
acid or the base is said to
• The more H+ ions, the
be diluted.
lower the pH, the more
• Concentration refers to the
acidic the solution
amount of acid/base
dissolved in solution
• Strong Acid/Base- When a strong acid/base
dissolves in water, nearly all of the acid/base
molecules will dissociate into ions. 
The greater the ability to dissociate, the more
potential the acid or base has for being dangerous
because there are more ions available to react .
• Weak Acid/Base- When a weak acid/base dissolves
in water, only a small fraction of the acid/base
molecules dissociate (dissociate partially) .
 With less ions in solution, there is less potential for
danger because there are less ions available to react
Hydrogen.
• Strong acids - Nitric acid (HNO3), Hydrochloric
acid (HCl), Sulfuric acid (H2SO4)

• Weak acids - acetic acid (CH3COOH), carbonic

acid (H2CO3), formic acid (HCOOH)

• Strong bases - Sodium hydroxide (NaOH),

potassium hydroxide (KOH), calcium hydroxide
(Ca(OH)2)

• Weak bases - Ammonia (NH3), potassium

carbonate (K2CO3), sodium carbonate (Na2CO3)
 Family of Salts
• Potassium sulphate , K2SO4
• sodium sulphate, Na2SO4
• calcium sulphate, CaSO4
• sodium chloride, NaCl
• sodium nitrate, NaNO3
• sodium carbonate, Na2CO3
• ammonium chloride and NH4Cl
• sodium phospate. Na3PO4
 Sodium Hydroxide
Chlor-alkali process-
• When electricity is passed through an aqueous solution
of sodium chloride (called brine), it decomposes to form
sodium hydroxide.
• The process is called the chlor-alkali process because of
the products formed–
• chlor for chlorine and alkali for sodium hydroxide.

• 2NaCl (aq) + 2H2O (l) → 2NaOH (aq) + Cl2 (g) +H2 (g)
 Bleaching powder
• Ca(OH)2 + Cl2 → CaOCl2 + H2O
USES-
(i) for bleaching cotton and linen in the textile industry,
for bleaching wood pulp in paper factories and for
bleaching washed clothes in laundry;
(ii) as an oxidising agent in many chemical industries;
(iii) for disinfecting drinking water to make it free of
germs.
 Baking soda
• NaCl + H2O + CO2 + NH3 → NH4Cl + NaHCO3
• When mixed with water and edible acid-
NaHCO3 + H+ → CO2 + H2O + Sodium salt of
acid
USES-
(i) For making baking powder;
(ii) An ingredient in antacids. Being alkaline, it
neutralises excess acid in the stomach and provides relief;
(iii) It is also used in soda-acid fire extinguishers.
 Washing soda
• 2NaHCO3 → Na2CO3 + H2O+CO2
• Recrystallisation-
Na2CO3 + 10H2O → Na2CO3.10H2O
USES-
(i) It is used in glass, soap and paper industries;
(ii) It is used in the manufacture of sodium compounds
such as borax;
(iii) It can be used as a cleaning agent for domestic
purposes;
(iv) It is used for removing permanent hardness of water.
 Water of crystallization
• Water of crystallisation is the fixed number of water
molecules present in one formula unit of a salt.
Eg- CuSO4. 5H2O - Copper sulphate
CaSO4.2H2O - Gypsum
CaSO4.1/2H2O - Plaster of Paris (On heating
gypsum at 373 K)

USES- POP is used for making toys, materials for

decoration, the substance which doctors use as plaster for
supporting fractured bones in the right position and for
making surfaces smooth.
ALL THE BEST!!