Acids, Base and Salts

Acid: is a proton donor

or is a substance that dissolve in water producing hydrogen ion as the only positive ions.
Strong acid: These are acid which ionize (dissociate) completely when dissolved in
water to form a lot of hydrogen ion

example of strong acid: Hydrochloric acid, HCl and Nitric acid, HNO3
Sulphuric acid, H2SO4
Weak acid: These are acids which do not ionize (dissociate) completely when dissolved
in water and thefore produce few hydrogen ions
Examples of weak acids: are vinegar (ethanoic acid) and carbonic acid
A solution of a strong acid has a much higher concentration of hydrogen ions than a
solution of a weak acid.
A solution of a strong acid therefore reacts more rapidly than a solution of a weak acid
BASICITY OF ACIDS

The Basicity of an acid is the number of hydrogen ions which can be produced by one
molecule of the acid.

Acid Basicity

HCl H+ + Cl- Monobasic

+
CH3COOH H + CH3COO- Monobasic
H2SO4 2H+ + SO42- Dibasic
H3PO4 3H+ + PO43- Tribasic

Properties of acids
1. They are corrosive. (they eat away metals and limestone)
2. Have a pH less than 7.
3. Acids taste sour (for example, vinegar).
4. Turn blue litmus paper red - this is an easy test for an acid!
5. Turn Universal Indicator from green to red,

Chemical (reactions) properties of acids

6. React with metals to produce hydrogen and a salt.
ie metal + acid salt + hydrogen gas

eg Zn + H2SO4 ZnSO4 + H2
7. They react with alkalis to form a salt and water only
ie alkali + acid salt + water
eg NaOH + HCl NaCl + H2O

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8. They react with metal oxide (bases) to form a salt and water only
ie Base + acid salt + water

eg CuO + 2HCl CuCl2 + H2O

9. Acid reacts with carbonates producing a salt, water and carbon dioxide gas
i.e. Calcium + hydrochloric calcium + water + carbon
Carbonate acid chloride dioxide

Base:is a proton acceptor

Or is a substance that dissolves in water producing hydroxide ions as the only
negative ions

Strong alkalis: Are those that ionize completely in water to giving OH- ions e.g NaOH

Weak Alkalis: Are those that ionize partially in water to give fewer OH- ions e.g NH4OH

Soluble bases are known as alkalis

Properties of Alkalis

1. They feel soapy to touch.

2. They turn red litmus blue - this is how you test for an alkali!
3. Alkalis contain hydroxide ions (OH-).
4. They got pH more than 7
5. They have bitter taste
6. Turns Universal Indicator from green to blue or purple.

chemical properties (reactions) of alkalis

7. They react with ammonia salts producing a salt and ammonia gas
NaOH + NH4CI NaCl + H2O + NH3
8. Base neutralize acid
NaOH + HCl NaCl + H2O

Some common alkalis used in your laboratories at school will be:

1. Sodium hydroxide, NaOH (aq)
2. Ammonia, NH4OH (aq)
3. Calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH)2(aq)

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Neutralization
Reactions between acids and alkalis
When an acid reacts with an alkali it produces a salt and water.

This reaction is called neutralization. The alkali has neutralized the acid by removing its
H+ ions, and turning them into water.
Neutralization always produces a Salt

OXIDES

Oxide is a compound of oxygen and another element

TYPE OF OXIDES
There are four types of oxides and these are:
a) Neutral oxides
b) Amphoteric oxides
c) Acidic oxides
d) Basic oxides

Basic Oxide: Are metallic oxides which react with acid which form a salt and water only
Example: CuO, MgO, K2O

MgO + 2HCI MgCl2 + H2O

Some basic oxides dissolve in water to form alkalis e.g Na2O

Na2O + H2O 2NaOH

Acidic Oxide: Are non metallic oxide which react with water to form acid
Examples: SO2, SO3, CO2

SO3 + H2O H2SO4

Neutral Oxide: Are non metal oxides which are neither acidic nor basic
Examples: NO, CO H2O

Amphoteric acid: These are metallic oxide which shows both basic and acidic properties
Examples: ZnO, PbO Al2O3

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Basic properties: Bases Neutralise acid. ZnO, Al2O3 will neutralize acid

Al2O3 + 6HCl 2AlCl3 + 3 H2O

INDICATORS

Indicators are dyes used to show whether a substance is acidic or alkaline by changing color.
some common indicator and their color change

INDICATOR Color in acid Color in Base/alkali Neutral

Red litmus paper red blue red

Blue litmus paper red blue blue

Methyl orange red/pink yellow orange

Methyl red red yellow

Phenolphthalein colorless pink colorless

Bromothylmol blue red blue purple

litmus water (solution) yellow blue blue

UNIVERSAL INDICATOR: is a mixture of other indicators (dyes).

Unlike other indicators it gives the following information about a substance when used
with the pH scale
 Whether a substance is an acid or base/alkali
 Whether a substance is neutral
 The strength of an acid/ alkali

pH (scale measuring acidity or alkalinity)

pH of a substance is degree of acidity or alkalinity of the substance. It is measured by the
pH scale. The scale runs from 0 to 14

The universal indicator is used to determine the pH of the solution by matching the color
change with pH scale.
The pH can be measured most accurately by using the pH meter. The pH electrode is
placed into a solution and a pH is given on the digital display.

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APPLICATION OF ACID-BASE REACTION IN DAILY LIFE
Soil Treatment – Farming
 The majority of plants grow best at pH 7. If the soil is acidic or alkaline the plant
may grow badly. Therefore, chemicals can be added to the soil to change its pH.

 If the soil is too acidic - the most common complaint - it is treated with a base
(chemicals opposite to an acid) in order to neutralise it. Common treatments use
quicklime (calcium oxide) or chalk (calcium carbonate).
Indigestion
 We all have hydrochloric acid in our stomach - it helps breakdown food!
However, too much acid leads to indigestion. Therefore, to cure this ailment we
need to neutralise the acid with a base such as, sodium hydrogen carbonate
(baking soda), or an indigestion tablet.
Insect Stings
 A bee sting contains acid. In order to relieve the painful symptoms of the sting
we need to neutralise the acid. By rubbing on calamine lotion (zinc carbonate) or
baking soda the acid can be neutralised.
 Wasp stings are alkaline, hence acid is needed to neutralise and remove the
painful sting. Vinegar (ethanoic acid) is used.

Waste from Factories

 Wastes from many factories are often acidic. If this acidic solution is not treated
and enters rivers it can kill fish. Slaked lime (calcium hydroxide) is often used to
neutralise the acid.

SALTS

SALTS: is substance made when hydrogen ion in acid are replaced by ion or the
ammonium ion (NH4+)

OR is a Substance formed of positive metallic ion or ammonium ion and negative ion
derived from acid.

NAMING OF SALTS

They named according to the anions (negative ions) derived from acid

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Ruth tsotlhe dekop
ACID NAME OF SALTS EXAMPLE
Sulphuric acid Sulphates Na2SO4
Hydrochloric acid chloride CaCI2
Nitric acid nitrate NH4NO3
ethanoic acid ethanoates CH3COONa
carbonic acid carbonate MgCO3

TYPE OF SALTS

NORMAL SALTS: All hydrogen ion in the acid is replaced by metal ion or ammonium
ion.H

ACIDIC SALTS: Not all the hydrogen ions are replaced by metal ion or ammonium ion.

ACID ACIDIC SALTS NORMAL SALTS

sulphuric acid sodium hydrogen sulphate sodium sulphate
carbonic acid sodium hydrogen carbonate sodium carbonate

some salts are soluble while others are insoluble.

1) All salts of group 1 metals are soluble.

2) All nitrates are soluble.
3) All ammonium salts are soluble.
4) All chlorides are soluble expect for AgCl, HgCl2, PbCl2.
5) All sulphate is soluble expect for BaSO4, CaSO4, PbSO4
6) All Carbonate are insoluble expect for group 1 metal and ammonium carbonate.

PREPARATION OF SALTS

Preparation of soluble salts

1. Acid + metal
2. Base + Acid
Insoluble base +acid
Alkali + acid
3. Carbonate + acid

1. ACID + METAL

The method is used to prepare salts of less reactive metal. group 1 metals are not used in
this method because they react explosively with acid

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Zinc, Magnesium, Calcium, Iron, Tin, Aluminium

Acid + metal salt + hydrogen gas

Example: Preparation of Zinc Sulphate

Equation: Zn + H2SO4 ZnSO4 + H2

Procedure

(i) Add Zinc granules to dilute sulphuric acid bit by bit until excess
(To know that it excess… effervescence stops)
(ii) filter to remove excess zinc granules
(iii) crystallization

2. ACIDS + BASE

(a) Acids + insoluble base

The method is used to prepare salts of unreactive metal e.g. copper, Lead. This metals
hardly react with acids

Example: Preparation of copper (ii) sulphate

Acids + Insoluble base Salt + Water

Equation: H2SO4 + CuO CuSO4 + H2O

STAGES IN PREPARING AND PURIFYING THE SALT

PREPARED
1. WARM the acid. DISSOLVE excess insoluble base while
stirring to react all the acid.
2. FILTRATION of the mixture to purify the salt. The filtrate
( solution of the soluble salt goes through the filter paper). Discard
off the residue (the solid left on filter paper).
3. EVAPORATE the filtrate by heating until saturated and crystals
start to form,
4. Allow to cool, and the rest of the crystals form at room
temperature, this is called CRYSTALLISATION.
5. FILTER off crystals. WASH them with cold little distilled water.
DRY crystals carefully between filter paper.

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 Preparation of hydrated copper(II) sulphate crystals
SOLUBLE SALT
Requirements: copper oxide, dilute sulphuric acid, Bunsen burner,
stirring rod, wire gauze, tripod stand, evaporating basin, 2 beakers,
a funnel, filter paper.

1 2

4 3

(b) Acids + alkali (TITRATION)

The method is used to prepare salts of reactive metals

Alkaline + acid salt + water

Procedure

(i) Acid and alkali are titrated together using an indicator. this is meant to
find the volume of the acid needed to react with the alkali.
(ii) the correct volumes of the acid, indicator will be added together
without using an indicator
(iii) crystallisation

3. ACIDS + CARBONATE

As for acid + insoluble base

Preparation of Copper (ii) Sulphate

Equation: H2SO4 + CuCO3

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Hydrated Salts: contain water of crystallization. The water of crystallization gives
crystals their shape and colour.
When hydrated salts are heated to dryness they lose the water of crystallization and
crystals lose shape and colour, and become powders. Anhydrous salts do not contain any
water of crystallization.

CuSO4∙ 5H2O (s) heat CuSO4(s) + 5H2O (g)

copper(II) pentahydrate copper(II) sulphate water
blue crystals white powder
(hydrated) (anhydrous)

hydrated salt formula colour

cobalt(II) chloride hexahydrate CoCl2∙ 6H2O pink
iron(II) sulphate hexahydrate FeSO4∙ 6H2O green
sodium carbonate decahydrate Na2CO3∙10H2O white
magnesium sulphate heptahydrate MgSO4∙7H2O white

Efflorescent salts: give out some or all of their water of crystallization to the air.
e.g. Na2CO3∙10H2O (s) → Na2CO3∙H2O(s) + 9H2O(g)

Deliquescent salts: absorb water from the air and turn into a aqueous solution.
e.g. copper(II) nitrate,Cu(NO3)2 , zinc chloride, ZnCl2 and sodium hydroxide, NaOH are
deliquescent salts should be kept in a dessicator to keep them dry.

PREPARATION OF INSOLUBLE SALTS

1. PRECIPITATION METHOD that involves the process of double

decomposition (or double dissociation) in which the use of two
soluble salts form one insoluble salt-a precipitate, and one soluble salt.
The reactants dissociate into ions and this is followed by the exchange
and rearrangement of ions to form products.
INSOLUBLE
SALTS SOLUBLE + SOLUBLE → INSOLUBLE +
SOLUBLE
SALT SALT SALT
SALT

PbCl2 (aq) + Na2CO3 (aq) → PbCO3 (s) +

NaCl (aq)
lead(II) chloride sodium carbonate lead(II) carbonate
sodium chloride

NaCl (aq) + AgNO3 (aq) → AgCl (s) +

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 NaNO3 (aq)
sodium chloride silver(I) nitrate silver(I) chloride
sodium nitrate

2. DISPLACEMENT REACTIONS of acid-metal reactions.

METAL + ACID → SALT + HYDROGEN
Pb (s) + H2SO4(aq) → PbSO4(s) + H2 (g)
lead sulphuric acid lead(II) sulphate

STAGES OF PREPARING AND PURIFYING SALTS PREPARED BY THE

ABOVE METHODS

1. FILTRATION of the mixture is done. The filtrate (solution of

the soluble salt goes through the filter paper)
2. WASHING of the residue (the insoluble solid left on the filter
INSOLUBLE paper) using distilled water.
SALT 3. DRYING of the residue between filter papers, or in the oven, or
in air to get your dry salt.

Uses of some salts

Salt colour use

ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) white crystals fertilizers

limestone, chalk, marble chips (CaCO3) white making lime, cement, iron
extraction, decorative
stones

gypsum, plaster of Paris (CaSO4) white crystals wall plaster

washing soda (Na2CO3) white powder or in cleaning; water

crystals softening, making glass

Epsom salts(MgSO4) white crystals health salts (laxatives)

copper sulphate(CuSO4) blue crystals fungicides

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