Acid and Bases

Acid is a substance that produces hydrogen ions, H+ in aqueous solution

1. Acid react with reactive metal
a. Metal + acid -> salt + hydrogen
b. Magnesium + dilute sulphuric acid -> magnesium sulphate + hydrogen

c. Bubbles can be seen from the reaction
d. Placing a lighted splint at the mouth of the test tube. Hydrogen will extinguishes
with a pop sound
e. Not all metal react with acid:
i. Eg, copper, silver
ii. Lead appears not to react with acid. It will produce a layer of lead. This
layer is insoluble in water and quickly forms a coating around metal.
Which protects the metal from further attack by acid

2. Acid react with carbonate
a. Carbonate + acid -> salt + water + carbon dioxide
b. Calcium carbonate + acid -> calcium chloride + water + carbon dioxide

3. Acid react with hydrogen carbonates
a. Hydrogen carbonate + acid -> salt + water + carbon dioxide

b. Sodium hydrogen carbonate + hydrochloric acid -> sodium chloride + water + carbon
dioxide
c. Presence of carbon dioxide gas test:
i. Bubbling the gas trough limewater
ii. C02 will produce a white precipitate

4. Acid reaction with metal oxides
a. Metal oxide + acid -> salt + water
b. Zinc oxide + dilute sulphuric acid -> zinc sulphate + water

5. Acid reaction with metal hydroxide
a. Metal hydroxide + acid -> salt + water
b. Zinc hydroxide + dilute nitric acid -> zinc nitrate + water
Uses of acid
- Sulphuric acid
o Fertilisers ->
o Detergents ->
o Battery cars->
- Hydrochloric acid
o Clean impurities such as rust from metals and aluminium alloys
- Ethanoic acid
o Flavour enhancer, vinegar
- Phosphoric acid
o Sour taste, food and beverages

Bases and alkali
A base is any metal oxide or hydroxide that reacts with an acid to produce a salt and water only
- Bases
o Contains either oxide ions, 02 or hydroxide ions 0H-
- General equation: base + acid -> salt + water
o Copper (II) oxide + dilute sulphuric acid -> copper (II) sulphate
o
o
- Bases are generally insoluble in water
- Examples of bases: sodium oxide, zinc oxide, magnesium hydroxide, aluminium hydroxide
An alkali is a substance that produces hydroxide ions, OH- in a aqueous solution
- Alkali
o Have bitter taste and feel soapy
o Turn red litmus paper blue
o Reacts with acid to form a salt and water only
Alkali + acid -> salt + water
Neutralisation reaction, H+ and OH- from acid and alkali reacts to form
water
Sodium hydrodixe + dilute sulphuric acid -> sodium sulphate + water

Ionic equation:

Neutralisation occurs



- Alkalis, when heated with ammonium salts, give off ammonia
o Alkali + ammonium salt -> salt + water + ammonia
o Calcium hydroxide + ammonium chloride -> calcium chloride + water + ammonia
o
o Can be recognized by its pungent smell
o Can be test for ammonia gas with a piece of moist red litmus paper, ammonia gas
turn the moist red litmus paper blue

- Alkali react with a solution of one metal salt to give another metal salts and metal hydroxide
o Alkali A + salt B -> salt A + metal hydroxide B
o Metal hydroxide will appears as precipitate
Sodium hydroxide + iron(II) sulphate -> sodium sulphate + iron (II) hydroxide


- Uses of bases and alkali
o Magnesium oxide used as antacid for relieving gastric pain and for making refractory
bricks
o Sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide are used in the soap
o Calcium hydroxide, calcium carbonate, calcium oxide, ammonia is used to reduce
acidity in soil
o Ammonia solution is used to make fertilisers
Strength and concentration
1. A strong acid is an acid that is completely ionised in aqueous solution
2. A weak acid is and acid that is only partially ionised in aqueous solution