Acids, Bases and Salts.

Acid

An acid is a substance which forms H+ ions as the only positive ion in aqueous solution.

Examples:-

Hydrochloric acid dissolved in water forms H+ and Cl ions
HCl —> H+ + Cl

 

Sulphuric acid dissolved in water forms H+ and SO42- ions
H2SO4 —>2H+ + SO42-

 

Nitric acid forms H+ and NO3 ions when dissolved in water
HNO3 —> H+ + NO3

 

Ethanoic acid,also know as acetic acid, forms H+ and CH3COO ions in water
CH3COOH —> H+ + CH3COO

Acetone, also known as propanone, doesn’t form any ions in water, so it isn’t an acid.
CH3COCH3 just dissolves in water.
Methane, CH4, doesn’t form any ions in water, so this isn’t an acid either.
So just containing hydrogen doesn’t make something an Arrhenius acid.

 

Properties of Acids

  • tastes sour
  • acids change blue litmus to red
  • their aqueous (water) solutions conduct electricity (i.e. they are electrolytes)
  • react with bases to form salts and water as the only products
  • evolve hydrogen gas (H2) upon reaction with an active Metal, such as alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, zinc, iron, aluminum, forming a salt as the only other product
  • Evolve carbon dioxide on reacting with metal carbonates.

 

Base

An alkali is a substance which forms OH- ions as the only negative ion in aqueous solution. A base is an insoluble hydroxide.

Examples:-

Sodium hydroxide, when dissolved in water, forms Na+ and OH ions
NaOH —> Na+ + OH

 

Calcium hydroxide dissolves in water to give Ca+ and OH ions
Ca(OH)2 —> Ca2+ + 2 OH

Ethanol CH3CH2OH does not form OH ions when dissolved in water, so it isn’t a base.
Ethanol just dissolves. Strictly speaking, ethanol actually forms a tiny amount of H+ ions in water and is a very weak acid.

 

Properties of Bases

  • taste bitter
  • feel slippery or soapy (But don’t touch them! They react with your skin to form soap.)
  • bases turn red (acidified) litmus back to blue
  • their aqueous (water) solutions conduct electricity (i.e. they are electrolytes)
  • react with acids to form salts and water as the only products

 

pH  Scale

A measure of the degree of the acidity or the alkalinity of a solution as measured on a scale (pH scale) of 0 to 14. The midpoint of 7.0 on the pH scale represents neutrality, i.e., a “neutral” solution is neither acid nor alkaline. Numbers below 7.0 indicate acidity; numbers greater than 7.0 indicate alkalinity. It is important to understand that pH is a measure of intensity, and not capacity; i.e., pH indicates the intensity of alkalinity in the same way temperature tells how hot something is, but not how much heat the substance carries.

The pH scale is logarithmic which means that moving on (unit either way on the pH scale results in a 10 fold increase in the degree of alkalinity or acidity.

Classification, pH, Product

Acidic

  • 0-1 Hydrochloric, Sulfuric, Nitric Acids
  • 1-2 Phosphoric, Sulfamic Acids
  • 2.0 Citrus Fruit
  • 6.0 Milk

Neutral

  • 7.0-7.5 Water, Sugar, Table Salt

 Alkaline

  • 8.0 Eggs
  • 11.0 Ammonia
  • 13-14 Caustic Soda, Degreasers

Products at the two extremes (less than pH 1 or greater than pH 13) are extremely oppressive and corrosive. Examples include sulfuric and hydrochloric acid on the acid end, and caustic soda on the alkaline end. Use solutions of phosphoric or sulfamic acid cleaners, typically in the pH range of slightly less than 2, may be described as “safe” acids comparison to the stronger acids. Of course, necessary safety precautions (eye and hand protection) as noted on the Material Safety Data Sheet should always be followed.

As an illustration of their non-aggressive behavior in comparison to stronger acids, products containing sulfamic or phosphoric acid were found to result in no chemical attacks on nylon carpets. On the other hand, a hydrochloric or powder acid-based product would basically dissolve the fibers.

Other than the two pH extremes, the pH scale becomes secondary to the inherent properties of the specific chemical in terms of corrosiveness. As an example, the pH of carbonated cola soda (which contains phosphoric acid) is in the 2.5 range. A concentrated (35%) hydrogen peroxide solution has a pH of approximately 3.5. Carbonated cola soda may be slightly irritating to the eyes, causing no permanent damage. However, a 35% hydrogen peroxide solution will cause chemical burns to the skin or mucous membranes. Thus, it is not the pH factor alone that causes corrosion of products to surfaces.

Salt

Salt is an ionic compound that can be formed by the neutralization reaction of an acid and a base.[1] Salts are composed of related numbers of cations (positively charged ions) and anions (negative ions) so that the product is electrically neutral (without a net charge). These component ions can be inorganic, such as chloride (Cl−), or organic, such as acetate (CH3CO−2); and can be monatomic, such as fluoride (F−), or polyatomic, such as sulfate (SO2−4).Salts can be easily identified since they usually consist of positive ions from a metal with negative ions from a non metal.

Salts often form a crystal structure or crystal lattice, a highly ordered formation of Molecules. This is why we get crystals of salt on our fries.This ordered structure and strong ionic bonding leads many salts to have some special properties. First, they tend to be crystalline solids with crystal structures. The solids also tend to be hard and brittle due to strong ionic bonding throughout the crystal. Salts also have high boiling and melting pointsbecause it takes a lot of energy to break those Bonds and change the salt’s matter state. Finally, salts are electrolytes, meaning they dissolve in water to create free moving ions, which are able to conduct electricity

Strong salts or strong electrolyte salts are chemical salts composed of strong electrolytes. These ionic compounds dissociate completely in water. They are generally odourless and nonvolatile.Weak salts or “weak electrolyte salts” are, as the name suggests, composed of weak electrolytes. They are generally more volatile than strong salts. They may be similar in odor to the acid or base they are derived from. For example, sodium acetate, NaCH3COO, smells similar to acetic acid CH3COOH.

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Acids, bases, and salts are three of the most important classes of chemical compounds. They are found in everything from food to cleaning products to pharmaceuticals. In this ARTICLE, we will discuss the properties of acids, bases, and salts, as well as their applications in everyday life.

Acids

An acid is a substance that donates hydrogen ions (H+) in a solution. The most common acids are hydrochloric acid (HCl), sulfuric acid (H2SO4), and nitric acid (HNO3). Acids have a sour taste and can turn blue litmus paper red. They can also react with bases to form salts.

There are three main types of acids: Arrhenius acids, Bronsted-Lowry acids, and Lewis acids.

  • Arrhenius acids are substances that dissolve in water to produce hydrogen ions (H+).
  • Bronsted-Lowry acids are substances that can donate a proton (H+) to another substance.
  • Lewis acids are substances that can accept an electron pair from another substance.

Acids are used in a variety of applications, including:

  • Cleaning products: Acids are used in cleaning products to dissolve dirt and grime.
  • Food: Acids are used in food to add flavor and to preserve food.
  • Pharmaceuticals: Acids are used in pharmaceuticals to treat a variety of conditions, such as heartburn and indigestion.
  • Industry: Acids are used in industry to produce a variety of products, such as paper, plastics, and Fertilizers.

Bases

A base is a substance that accepts hydrogen ions (H+) in a solution. The most common bases are sodium hydroxide (NaOH), potassium hydroxide (KOH), and calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2). Bases have a bitter taste and can turn red litmus paper blue. They can also react with acids to form salts.

There are three main types of bases: Arrhenius bases, Bronsted-Lowry bases, and Lewis bases.

  • Arrhenius bases are substances that dissolve in water to produce hydroxide ions (OH-).
  • Bronsted-Lowry bases are substances that can accept a proton (H+) from another substance.
  • Lewis bases are substances that can donate an electron pair to another substance.

Bases are used in a variety of applications, including:

  • Cleaning products: Bases are used in cleaning products to dissolve grease and oil.
  • Food: Bases are used in food to add flavor and to preserve food.
  • Pharmaceuticals: Bases are used in pharmaceuticals to treat a variety of conditions, such as heartburn and indigestion.
  • Industry: Bases are used in industry to produce a variety of products, such as paper, plastics, and fertilizers.

Salts

A salt is an ionic compound that is formed when an acid reacts with a base. The salt contains the cation from the base and the anion from the acid. For example, when sodium hydroxide (NaOH) reacts with hydrochloric acid (HCl), the salt sodium chloride (NaCl) is formed.

Salts have a variety of properties, including:

  • They are typically solid at room temperature.
  • They are often soluble in water.
  • They can conduct electricity when dissolved in water.
  • They can taste salty.

Salts are used in a variety of applications, including:

  • Food: Salt is used in food to add flavor.
  • Medicine: Salt is used in some medicines to treat dehydration.
  • Industry: Salt is used in industry to produce a variety of products, such as paper, plastics, and fertilizers.

Conclusion

Acids, bases, and salts are three of the most important classes of chemical compounds. They are found in everything from food to cleaning products to pharmaceuticals. In this article, we have discussed the properties of acids, bases, and salts, as well as their applications in everyday life.

1. What is a Chemical Reaction?

A chemical reaction is a process that changes one or more substances into new substances.

2. What are the different types of chemical reactions?

There are many different types of chemical reactions, but some of the most common include:

  • Synthesis reactions: Two or more substances combine to form a new substance.
  • Decomposition reactions: A single substance breaks down into two or more substances.
  • Single replacement reactions: One element replaces another element in a compound.
  • Double replacement reactions: Two compounds exchange ions to form two new compounds.
  • Combustion reactions: A substance reacts with Oxygen to produce heat and Light.

3. What are the reactants and products in a chemical reaction?

The reactants are the substances that are present at the beginning of a chemical reaction. The products are the substances that are formed at the end of a chemical reaction.

4. What is the law of conservation of mass?

The law of conservation of mass states that mass cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction. The total mass of the reactants is always equal to the total mass of the products.

5. What is the law of conservation of energy?

The law of conservation of energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, but it can be transferred from one form to another. In a chemical reaction, the total energy of the reactants is always equal to the total energy of the products.

6. What is a Catalyst?

A catalyst is a substance that speeds up The Rate of a Chemical Reaction without being consumed by the reaction.

7. What is an inhibitor?

An inhibitor is a substance that slows down the rate of a chemical reaction.

8. What is an equilibrium?

An equilibrium is a state of balance in which the rate of the forward reaction is equal to the rate of the reverse reaction.

9. What is a buffer?

A buffer is a solution that resists changes in pH.

10. What is a precipitate?

A precipitate is a solid that forms when two solutions are mixed.

11. What is a solution?

A solution is a homogeneous mixture of two or more substances.

12. What is a suspension?

A suspension is a heterogeneous mixture of a solid and a liquid.

13. What is a colloid?

A colloid is a heterogeneous mixture of two or more substances in which the particles of one substance are dispersed throughout the other substance.

14. What is a gas?

A gas is a state of matter in which the particles are far apart and move freely.

15. What is a liquid?

A liquid is a state of matter in which the particles are close together and can flow.

16. What is a solid?

A solid is a state of matter in which the particles are close together and cannot flow.

17. What is a crystal?

A crystal is a solid that has a regular, repeating pattern of atoms or molecules.

18. What is a molecule?

A molecule is a group of two or more atoms that are held together by chemical bonds.

19. What is an atom?

An atom is the smallest unit of matter that retains all of the chemical properties of an element.

20. What is an element?

An element is a substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means.

21. What is a compound?

A compound is a substance that is made up of two or more Elements that are chemically combined.

22. What is a mixture?

A mixture is a substance that is made up of two or more substances that are not chemically combined.

23. What is a physical property?

A physical property is a characteristic of a substance that can be observed or measured without changing the identity of the substance.

24. What is a chemical property?

A chemical property is a characteristic of a substance that describes how the substance will react with other substances.

25. What is a physical change?

A physical change is a change in the state or appearance of a substance, but the identity of the substance remains the same.

26. What is a chemical change?

A chemical change is a change in which one or more substances are converted into new substances.

27. What is a physical law?

A physical law is a statement that describes a general relationship

  1. Which of the following is a base?
    (A) Sodium hydroxide
    (B) Hydrochloric acid
    (C) Ammonia
    (D) Ethanol

  2. Which of the following is a salt?
    (A) Sodium chloride
    (B) Magnesium sulfate
    (C) Potassium nitrate
    (D) All of the above

  3. When an acid and a base react, they form a salt and water. This is called a neutralization reaction.
    (A) True
    (B) False

  4. The pH scale is a measure of how acidic or basic a solution is. A pH of 7 is neutral. A pH below 7 is acidic, and a pH above 7 is basic.
    (A) True
    (B) False

  5. A solution with a pH of 7 is said to be neutral because it contains equal amounts of hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions.
    (A) True
    (B) False

  6. A solution with a pH of 1 is said to be very acidic because it contains a lot of hydrogen ions.
    (A) True
    (B) False

  7. A solution with a pH of 14 is said to be very basic because it contains a lot of hydroxide ions.
    (A) True
    (B) False

  8. Acids are corrosive and can damage skin and other materials.
    (A) True
    (B) False

  9. Bases are slippery and can also damage skin and other materials.
    (A) True
    (B) False

  10. Salts are generally not harmful, but some salts can be toxic if ingested in large quantities.
    (A) True
    (B) False