ACIDS,BASES AND SALTS

Acids

Properties of Acids:

 Acids have a sour taste.

 Turns blue litmus red.
 Acid solution conducts electricity.
 Release H+ ions in aqueous solution.

Example: Sulphuric acid (H2SO4), Acetic Acid (CH3COOH), Nitric Acid (HNO3) etc.

Types of Acids: Acids are divided into two types on the basis of their occurrence i.e., Natural acids
and Mineral acids.
(i) Natural or organic or weak Acids: Acids which are obtained from natural sources are called
Natural Acids or Organic Acids.
Examples:
Methanoic acid (HCOOH), Acetic acid (CH3COOH), Oxalic acid (C2H2O4) etc

Organic Acids and their Sources

Acids Sources

Acetic acid Vinegar

Ascorbic acid Guava, amla

Citric acid Lemon, orange and other citrus fruits

Lactic acid Sour milk, curd

Methanoic acid Ant sting, nettle sting

Oxalic acid Tomato

Tartaric acid Tamarind

(ii) Mineral or strong Acids: Acids that are prepared from minerals are known as Mineral Acids
Example; Inorganic acids, man-made acids or synthetic acid are also known as Mineral Acids.
Example:
Hydrochloric acid (HCl), Sulphuric acid (H2SO4), Nitric acid (HNO3), Carbonic acid (H2CO3)
Phosphoric acid (H3PO4) etc.

Common in Acids:  When an acid is dissolved in water, it dissociates hydrogen. The dissociation of
hydrogen ion in aqueous solution is the common property in all acids. Because of the dissociation of
hydrogen ion in aqueous solution, an acid shows acidic behaviour.
Examples:
Hydrochloric acid (HCl) gives hydrogen ion (H+) and chloride ion (Cl–) when it is dissolved in water.

HCl (aq) H+ (aq) + Cl- (aq)

Acetic acid (CH3COOH) gives acetate ion (CH3COO–) and hydrogen ion (H+).

CH3COOH (aq) CH3COOH- (aq) + H+ (aq)

Strong Acids
An acid which is completely ionised in water and produces (H+) is called Strong Acid.
Examples: Hydrochloric acid (HCl), Sulphuric acid (H2SO4), Nitric acid (HNO3)

Weak Acids
An acid which is partially ionised in water and thus produces a small amount of hydrogen ions (H +) is
called a Weak Acid.
Example: Acetic acid (CH3COOH), Carbonic acid (H2CO3)

Basicity of an acid : Basicity of an acid is the number of hydrogen ions which can be produced by
one molecule of an acid. e.g. Acetic acid is monobasic in nature as it can lose hydrogen atom to form
acetate ion.

Bases: 
Properties of Bases:

 Have a bitter taste.

 Soapy to touch.
 Turns red litmus blue.
 Conducts electricity in solution.
 Release OH– ions in Aqueous Solution

Examples: Sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) – NaOH

Calcium hydroxide – Ca(OH)2
Potassium hydroxide (caustic potash) – (KOH)

Types of Bases: Bases are divided into three types:

Strong Bases: A base which is completely ionised in water and produces hydroxide ions (OH -) is
called Strong Base.

For example; sodium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, etc.

Weak Bases: A base which is partially ionised in water and thus produces small amount of hydroxide
ions (OH-) is called a Weak Base.

For example: Ammonium hydroxide

Alkalis: These are the bases which are soluble in water.

For example; sodium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, etc.

Common in all bases: A base dissociates hydroxide ion in water, which is responsible for the basic
behaviour of a compound.
Example: When sodium hydroxide is dissolved in water, it dissociates hydroxide ion and sodium ion.

NaOH Na + (aq) + OH- (aq)

Acidity of bases: The number of hydroxyl ions which can be produces per molecule of the base in
aqueous solution.

For example: The acidity of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is one, it is a monoacid, the acidity of
Ca(OH)2 is two, if is a diacid base, Al(OH)3 is a triacid base.

Dilution of Acid and Base: The concentration of hydrogen ion in an acid and hydroxide ion in a
base, per unit volume, shows the concentration of acid or base.

By mixing of acid to water, the concentration of hydrogen ion per unit volume decreases. Similarly,
by addition of base to water, the concentration of hydroxide ion per unit volume decreases. This
process of addition of acid or base to water is called Dilution and the acid or base is called Diluted.

The dilution of acid is exothermic. Thus, acid is always added to water and water is never added to
acid. If water is added to a concentrated acid, a lot of heat is generated, which may cause splashing
out of acid and may cause severe damage as concentrated are highly corrosive.

Indicators: Indicators are substances which indicate the acidic or basic nature of the solution by the
colour change.
Types of Indicator: There are many types of indicators. Some common types of indicators are:

1. Natural Indicators: Indicators obtained from natural sources are called Natural Indicators.
For example : Litmus, turmeric, red cabbage, China rose, etc.
Litmus: Litmus is obtained from lichens. The solution of litmus is purple in colour. Litmus
paper comes in two colours- blue and red.
An acid turns blue litmus paper red.
A base turns red litmus paper blue.

Turmeric: Turmeric is another natural indicator. Turmeric is yellow in colour. Turmeric solution

or paper turns reddish brown with base. Turmeric does not change colour with acid.
Red Cabbage: The juice of red cabbage is originally purple in colour. Juice of red cabbage turns
reddish with acid and turns greenish with base.

2. Olfactory Indicator: Substances which change their smell when mixed with acid or base are
known as Olfactory Indicators. For example; Onion, vanilla etc.
Onion: Paste or juice of onion loses its smell when added with base. It does not change its smell with
acid.
Vanilla: The smell of vanilla vanishes with base, but its smell does not vanish with an acid.
Olfactory Indicators are used to ensure the participation of visually impaired students in the
laboratory.

3. Synthetic Indicator: Indicators that are synthesized in the laboratory are known as Synthetic
Indicators. For example; Phenolphthalein, methyl orange, etc.
Phenolphthalein is a colourless liquid. It remains colourless with acid but turns into pink with a
base.
Methyl orange is originally orange in colour. It turns into the red with acid and turns into yellow
with base.

Indicator Original Colour Acid Base

Red litmus Red No Change Blue

Blue litmus Blue Red No change

Turmeric Yellow No Change Reddish brown

Red cabbage juice Purple Reddish Greenish yellow

Phenolphthalein Colourless Colourless Pink

Methyl Orange Orange Red Yellow

Onion n/a No change Smell vanishes

Vanilla n/a No change Smell vanishes

Chemical Properties of Acid:

(i) Reaction of acids with metal: Dilute Acids give hydrogen gas along with respective salt when
they react with a metal.
Metal + Acid (Dilute/Mineral) → Salt + Hydrogen
Examples:
Hydrogen gas and zinc chloride are formed when dilute hydrochloric acid reacts with zinc metal.

Zn (s) + 2HCl (aq) ZnCl2 (aq) + H2 (g)

Hydrogen gas and sodium sulphate are formed when dil. sulphuric acid reacts with sodium metal.

2Na (s) + 2H2SO4 (aq) Na2SO4 (aq) + H2 (g)

Hydrogen gas and magnesium chloride are formed when dil. hydrochloric acid reacts with magnesium
metal.

Mg(s) + 2HCl (aq) MgCl2 (aq) + H2 (g)

Test For Hydrogen Gas: The gas evolved after reaction of acid with metal can be tested by bringing
a lighted candle near it. If the gas bums with a pop sound, then it confirms the evolution of hydrogen
gas. Burning with pop sound is the characteristic test for hydrogen gas.

Note: The reactivity of metals is based on the metal reactivity series. The metals placed above
hydrogen react with dilute acids to produce salt whereas metals below hydrogen do not react
with dilute acids because they are less reactive than hydrogen and therefore they cannot
displace hydrogen from dilute acids.

Since copper is placed below hydrogen in the metal reactivity series, therefore it is unreactive
and hence it cannot displace hydrogen from dilute hydrochloric acid.

(ii) Reaction of acids with metal carbonate: Acids give carbon dioxide gas and respective salts
along with water when they react with metal carbonates.
Metal carbonate + Acid → Salt + Carbon dioxide + Water
Examples:
Hydrochloric acid gives carbon dioxide gas, sodium chloride along with water when reacts with
sodium carbonate.

Na2CO3 (aq) + 2HCl (aq) 2NaCl (aq) + CO 2 + H2O (l)

Sulphuric acid gives carbon dioxide gas, magnesium sulphate along with water when reacts with
magnesium carbonate.

MgCO3 (aq) + H2SO4 (aq) MgSO4 (aq) + CO2 + H2O (l)

Hydrochloric acid gives carbon dioxide gas, zinc chloride along with water when reacts with zinc
carbonate.

ZnCO3 (aq) + 2HCl (aq) ZnCl 2 (aq) + CO2 + H2O (l)

Hydrochloric acid gives carbon dioxide gas, sodium chloride along with water when reacts with
sodium hydrogen carbonate.

NaHCO3 (aq) + HCl (aq) NaCl (aq) + CO 2 + H2O (l)

Test for Evolution of Carbon Dioxide Gas: Carbon dioxide turns lime water milky when passed
through it. This happens because of the formation of a white precipitate of calcium carbonate.

Ca(OH)2 (aq) + CO2 (g) CaCO3 (aq) + H2O (g)

When excess of CO2 is passed through this solution, the milkiness disappears. This is due to the formation of
calcium bicarbonate which is colourless and soluble in water.
CaCO3+ H2O + CO2 ⟶ Ca(HCO3)2

(iii) Reaction of acids with metal Sulphite:  Acids give sulphur dioxide gas and respective salts
along with water when they react with metal sulphites.
Metal sulphite + Acid → Salt + sulphur dioxide + Water
Examples:
Hydrochloric acid gives sulphur dioxide gas, sodium chloride along with water when reacts with
sodium sulphite.

Na2SO3 (aq) + 2HCl (aq) 2NaCl (aq) + SO 2 + H2O (l)

(iv) Reaction of Acid with Base

Reaction of metal oxides and hydroxides with acids:
Metal oxides or metal hydroxides are basic in nature.
Acid + base/metal hydroxide → salt + water
H2SO4 + MgO → MgSO4 + H2O
2HCl + Mg (OH) 2 → MgCl2 + 2H2O
The reaction between hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide forms salt and water.
HCl + NaOH → NaCl (salt) + H2O (water)