Acids Bases and Salts Class 10 Notes Science Chapter 2
Acids Bases and Salts Class 10 Notes Science Chapter 2
1. Natural Indicators: Indicators obtained from natural sources are called Natural
Indicators. Litmus, turmeric, red cabbage, China rose, etc., are some common natural
indicators used widely to show the acidic or basic character of substances.
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.
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.
Acids: Acids are sour in taste, turn blue litmus red, and dissolve in water to release
H ions.
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Example: Sulphuric acid (H SO ), Acetic Acid (CH COOH), Nitric Acid (HNO ) etc.
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Properties of Acids:
Acids Sources
(ii) Mineral 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 (H SO )
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Carbonic acid (H CO )
2 3
Hydrogen gas and sodium sulphate are formed when sulphuric acid reacts with
sodium metal.
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.
(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.
Sulphuric acid gives calcium sulphate, carbon dioxide gas, calcium sulphate and
water when it reacts with calcium carbonate
Nitric acid gives sodium nitrate, water and carbon dioxide gas when it reacts with
sodium carbonate.
(iii) Reaction of acid with hydrogen carbonates (bicarbonates): Acids give carbon
dioxide gas, respective salt and water when they react with metal hydrogen
carbonate.
Acid + Metal hydrogen carbonate → Salt + Carbon dioxide + Water
Example:
Sulphuric acid gives sodium sulphate, Carbon dioxide gas and water when it reacts
with sodium bicarbonate.
Test For Evolution of Carbon Dioxide Gas: Carbon dioxide turns lime water milky
when passed through it. This is the characteristic test for carbon dioxide gas.
The gas evolved because of reaction of the acid with metal carbonate or metal
hydrogen carbonate turns lime water milky. This shows that the gas is carbon
dioxide gas. This happens because of the formation of a white precipitate of calcium
carbonate.
But when excess of carbon dioxide is passed through lime water, it makes milky
colour of lime water disappear. This happens because of formation of calcium
hydrogen carbonate. As calcium hydrogen carbonate is soluble in water, thus, the
milky colour of solution mixture disappears.
Common in Acids: Acids give hydrogen gas when they react with metal. This shows
that all acids contains hydrogen. For example; Hydrochloric acid (HCl), sulphuric acid
(H SO ), nitric acid (HNO ), etc.
2 4 3
dissolved in water.
Acetic acid (CH COOH) gives acetate ion (CH3COO ) and hydrogen ion (H ).
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Acids
Strong Acids
An acid which is completely ionised in water and produces (H ) is called Strong Acid.
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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.
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decreases.
Bases: Bases are bitter in taste, have soapy touch, turn red litmus blue and give
hydroxide ions (OH ) in aqueous solution.
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Properties of Bases:
Types of bases: Bases can be divided in two types – Water soluble and Water-
insoluble.
The hydroxide of alkali and alkaline earth metals are soluble in water. These are also
known as alkali.
For example; sodium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, etc. Alkali
is considered a strong base.
Chemical properties of bases:
(i) Reaction of Base with Metals: When alkali (base) reacts with metal, it produces
salt and hydrogen gas.
Alkali + Metal → Salt + Hydrogen
Examples: Sodium hydroxide gives hydrogen gas and sodium zincate when reacts
with zinc metal.
Sodium aluminate and hydrogen gas are formed when sodium hydroxide reacts with
aluminium metal.
(ii) Reaction of Base with Oxides of Non-metals: Non-metal oxides are acidic in
nature. For example; carbon dioxide is a non-metal oxide. When carbon dioxide is
dissolved in water it produces carbonic acid.
Therefore, when a base reacts with non-metal oxide, both neutralize each other
resulting respective salt and water.
Base + Non-metal oxide → Salt + Water
(Non-metal oxides are acidic in nature)
Examples:
Sodium hydroxide gives sodium carbonate and water when it reacts with carbon
dioxide.
Calcium hydroxide gives calcium carbonate and water when it reacts with carbon
dioxide.
(iii) Neutralisation Reaction: An acid neutralizes a base when they react with each
other and respective salt and water are formed.
Acid + Base → Salt + Water
Since, the reaction between acid and base both neutralize each other, hence, it is
also known as Neutralization Reaction.
Examples: Sodium chloride and water are formed when hydrochloric acid reacts with
sodium hydroxide (a strong base).
In a similar way, calcium chloride is formed along with water when hydrochloric acid
reacts with calcium hydroxide (a base).
(iv) Reaction of Acid with Metal Oxides: Metal oxides are basic in nature. Thus, when
an acid reacts with a metal oxide both neutralize each other. In this reaction, the
respective salt and water are formed.
Acid + Metal Oxide → Salt + Water
(Metal oxides are basic in nature)
Examples:
Calcium is a metal, thus, calcium oxide is a metallic oxide which is basic in nature.
When an acid, such as hydrochloric acid, reacts with calcium oxide, neutralization
reaction takes place and calcium chloride, along with water is formed.
Similarly, when sulphuric acid reacts with zinc oxide, zinc sulphate and water are
formed.
Thus, the base shows its basic character because of dissociation of hydroxide ion.
Neutralisation Reaction: When an acid reacts with a base, the hydrogen ion of acid
combines with the hydroxide ion of base and forms water. As these ions combine
together and form water instead of remaining free, thus, both neutralize each other.
Example: When sodium hydroxide (a base) reacts with hydrochloric acid, sodium
hydroxide breaks into a sodium ion and hydroxide ion and hydrochloric acid breaks
into hydrogen ion and chloride ion.
Hydrogen ion and hydroxide ion combine together and form water, while sodium ion
and chloride ion combine together and form sodium chloride.
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 or base is exothermic. Thus, acid or base is always added to
water and water is never added to acid or base. If water is added to a concentrated
acid or base, a lot of heat is generated, which may cause splashing out of acid or
base and may cause severe damage as concentrated acid and base are highly
corrosive.
Strength of Acid and Base: Acids in which complete dissociation of hydrogen ion
takes place are called Strong Acids. Similarly, bases in which complete dissociation
of hydroxide ion takes place are called Strong Bases.
In mineral acid, such as hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid, nitric acid, etc. hydrogen
ion dissociates completely and hence, they are considered as strong acids. Since
inorganic acids hydrogen ions do not dissociate completely, so they are weak acids.
Universal Indicator: Using a litmus paper, phenolphthalein, methyl orange, etc. only
the acidic or basic character of a solution can be determined, but the use of these
indicators does not give the idea about the strength of acid or base. So, to get the
strength as well as acidic and basic nature of a given solution universal indicator is
used.
Universal indicator shows different colour over the range of pH value from 1 to 14 for
a given solution. Universal indicator is available both in the form of strips and
solution. Universal indicator is the combination of many indicators, such as water,
propanol, phenolphthalein, sodium salt, sodium hydroxide, methyl red, bromothymol
blue monosodium salt, and thymol blue monosodium salt. The colour matching
chart is supplied with a universal indicator which shows the different colours for
different values of pH.
sodium hydrogen carbonate (baking soda) are used to neutralize excess acid.
(ii) Tooth decay caused by acids: The bacteria present in our mouth converts the
sugar into acids. When the pH of acid formed in the mouth falls below 5.5, tooth-
decaying starts. The excess acid has to be removed by cleaning the teeth with a
good quality toothpaste because these kinds of toothpaste are alkaline in nature.
(iii) Soil of pH and plant growth: Most of the plants have a healthy growth when the
soil has a specific pH (close to 7) range which should be neither alkaline nor highly
acidic. Therefore,
Salts: Salts are the ionic compounds which are produced after the neutralization
reaction between acid and base. Salts are electrically neutral. There are number of
salts but sodium chloride is the most common among them. Sodium chloride is also
known as table salt or common salt. Sodium chloride is used to enhance the taste of
food.
Characteristics of salt:
Family of Salt: Salts having common acidic or basic radicals are said to belong to
the same family.
Example:
(i) Sodium chloride (NaCl) and Calcium chloride (CaCl ) belongs to chloride family.
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(ii) Calcium chloride (CaCl ) and Calcium sulphate (CaSO ) belongs to calcium family.
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(iii) Zinc chloride (ZnCl ) and Zinc sulphate (ZnSO ) belongs to the zinc family.
2 4
Sodium chloride (NaCl): It is formed after the reaction between hydrochloric acid (a
strong acid) and sodium hydroxide (a strong base).
Sodium Sulphate (Na SO ): It is formed after the reaction between sodium hydroxide
2 4
(iii) Basic Salts: Salts which are formed after the reaction between a weak acid and
strong base are called Basic Salts. For example; Sodium carbonate, Sodium acetate,
etc.
Sodium carbonate is formed after the reaction between sodium hydroxide (a strong
base) and carbonic acid (a weak acid).
Sodium acetate is formed after the reaction between a strong base, sodium
hydroxide (a strong base) and acetic acid, (a weak acid).
When a strong acid reacts with a weak base, the base is unable to fully
neutralize the acid. Due to this, an acidic salt is formed.
When a strong base reacts with a weak acid, the acid is unable to fully
neutralize the base. Due to this, a basic salt is formed.
When equally strong acid and a base react, they fully neutralize each
other. Due to this, a neutral salt is formed.
pH value of salt:
is a solid and yellowish white in colour. Bleaching powder can be easily identified by
the strong smell of chlorine.
When calcium hydroxide (slaked lime) reacts with chlorine, it gives calcium
oxychloride (bleaching powder) and water is formed.
Aqueous solution of bleaching powder is basic in nature. The term bleach means
removal of colour. Bleaching powder is often used as bleaching agent. It works
because of oxidation. Chlorine in the bleaching powder is responsible for bleaching
effect.
3. Baking Soda (NaHCO ): Baking soda is another important product which can be
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obtained using byproducts of chlor – alkali process. The chemical name of baking
soda is sodium hydrogen carbonate (NaHCO ) or sodium bicarbonate. Bread soda,
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cooking soda, bicarbonate of soda, sodium bicarb, bicarb of soda or simply bicarb,
etc. are some other names of baking soda.
Preparation Method: Baking soda is obtained by the reaction of brine with carbon
dioxide and ammonia. This is known as Solvay process.
In this process, calcium carbonate is used as the source of CO and the resultant
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Baking powder is the mixture of baking soda and a mild edible acid. Generally,
tartaric acid is mixed with baking soda to make baking powder.
to give CO and sodium carbonate (Na CO ). CO causes bread and cake fluffy.
2 2 3 2
The sodium carbonate obtained in this process is dry. It is called Soda ash or
Anhydrous sodium carbonate. Washing soda is obtained by rehydration of
anhydrous sodium carbonate.
Since there are 10 water molecules in washing soda, hence, it is known as Sodium
Bicarbonate Decahydrate.
Sodium carbonate is a crystalline solid and it is soluble in water when most of the
carbonates are insoluble in water.
Acids: Substances which turn blue litmus solution red are called acids. Acids are
sour in taste.
Bases: Substances which change red litmus solution blue are called bases. They are
bitter in taste.
Mineral Acids: Acids which are obtained from minerals like sulphates, nitrates,
chlorides etc. are called mineral acids, example, H SO (Sulphuric acid), HNO (Nitric
2 4 3
Organic Acids: Acids which are obtained from plants and animals are called organic
acids. Example citric acid, ascorbic acid, tartaric acid, lactic acid, acetic acid.
Hydronium Ions: They are formed by the reaction of H (from acid) and H O. It is
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2
because H is unstable.
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Strong Acids: Acids which dissociate into ions completely are called strong acids.
Example, H SO , HCl.
2 4
Weak Acids: Acids which do not dissociate into ions completely are called weak
acids. Example, citric acid, acetic acid.
Acids react with active metals to give salt and hydrogen gas.
Acids react with metal carbonates and metal hydrogen carbonates to
give salt, water and carbon dioxide.
Acids react with bases to give salt and water. This reaction is called a
neutralization reaction.
Acids react with metal oxides to give salt and water.
Chemical Properties of Bases:
Reaction with metals: Certain metals such as zinc, aluminium and tin
react with alkali solutions on heating and hydrogen gas is evolved.
Reaction with acids: Bases react with acids to form salt and water.
Indicators: Indicators are substances which indicate the acidic or basic nature of the
solution by their colour change.
pH = -log [H O ]
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Preparation of Plaster of Paris: