Chapter 15 Section 3

 Explain the difference between strong acids &

bases and weak acids & bases

 Identify acids and bases by using the pH scale

 Describe the formation and uses of salts

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 Strong or weak

 Strength is not the same as concentration

 Concentration is the amount of acid or base

dissolved in water

 Strength depends on the # of molecules that

break apart when the acid or base is
dissolved in water
 If all the molecules of an acid break apart, the
acid is called a strong acid

 Ex: sulfuric acid, nitric acid, hydrochloric acid

 If only a few molecules of an acid break apart,

the acid is a weak acid

 Ex: Acetic acid, citric acid, carbonic acid

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 When all the molecules of a base break apart
in water to produce hydroxide ions, the base
is a strong base

 Ex: sodium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide,

potassium hydroxide

 When only a few molecules of a base break

apart, the base is a weak base
◦ Ex: ammonium hydroxide, aluminum hydroxide
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 Neutralization reaction: the reaction between
acids and bases

 Hydrogen ions (H⁺) and the hydroxide ions

(OHˉ) react to form water (H2O) which is
neutral

 Other ions from the acid & base dissolve in

the water
 If the water evaporates, these ions join to
form a compound called a salt
 An indicator (litmus) identifies acids or bases
in solution

 pH is a measure of the hydronium ion

concentration in the solution

 pH of 7 is neutral (neither acidic or basic)

 Acids < 7, Bases >7

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 pH color strips

 pH meters

 Let’s check some out…

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 Pine trees prefer acidic soil (pH 4-6)

 Lettuce prefers basic soil (pH 8)

 Color of hydrangea flowers varies with pH

 Organisms in lakes & streams need a neutral

(7) pH to survive

 Rain has a pH of 5.5 – 6 (in U.S. as low as 3)

 Blue flowers = low pH soil
 Pink flowers = high pH soil

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 When an acid neutralizes a base, a salt and
water are produced

 Salt: an ionic compound that is formed from

the positive ion of a base and the negative
ion of an acid

 Not just table salt…

 In industry and in homes
◦ Sodium chloride (NaCl)

◦ Lye: Sodium hydroxide

◦ Baking soda

◦ Sodium nitrate (preserves food)

◦ Calcium sulfate (make wallboard in construction)

 Is the compound H3PO4 an acid or a base?
How do you know?

 Would you expect the pH of a sample of acid

rain to be 4 or 9? Why?

 What products would form when hydrochloric

acid (HCl) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH)
react?