ACID AND BASES

ACID AND BASES

THE STRENGTH OF ACIDS AND ALKALIS
CONCENTRATION OF ACIDS AND
ALKALIS
NEUTRALISATION

ACID AND BASES

ACIDS
i. Examples: (Chemical formulae of the
acids ) HCl, HNO3, H2SO4, CH3COOH
ii. When acids are dissolved in water,
hydrogen atom are released as hydrogen
ions, H+

DEFINITION OF AN ACID
An acid is a chemical substance which
ionises in water to produce hydrogen ions,
H+
Hydrogen chloride molecule, HCl dissolves in water
and ionises to produce a hydrogen ion, H+
HCl H+ + ClThe hydrogen ion combines with a water molecule,
to form a hydroxonium ion, H3O+
H+ + H2O H3O+

Classification of acid
based on its basicity
1.

Monoprotic acid : HCl and HNO3

2. Diprotic acid : H2SO4

Basicity of an acid :
The maximum number of hydrogen ions that
is produced when one molecule of the acid
ionises in water

Bases and alkalis

A base is a substance that reacts with
an acid to form a salt and water
Examples of bases :
All metal oxides and metal hydroxide
CuO, MgO, Na2O
- Cu(OH)2, Mg(OH)2, NaOH

Definition of a base
A base is a chemical substance which ionises
in water to produce hydroxide ion, OHA base that dissolves in water is called an
Alkali : NaOH, KOH, Na2O, K2O, Ca(OH)2
Ammonia solution, NH3(aq)

NaOH dissolves in water and

releases its hydroxide ion,OHNaOH Na+ + OHAmmonia molecule, NH3 dissolves in
water to produce a hydroxide ion,
OHNH3 + H2O NH4+

+ OH-

Uses of acids, bases and alkali

Laboratary reagents
Manufacture and preserve food-benzoic
acid, carbonic acid, ethanoic acid, ascorbic
acid
Making medicines-magnesium
hydroxide(toothpaste) and Aluminium
hydroxide (gastric pills)
Producing detergents, soaps and shampoo
( sulphuric acid, hyrochloric acid, sodium
hydroxide),

Role of water and the

properties of acids
An acid only shows its acidic
properties when dissolved in water,
- Without water : acid exists as
molecules , no H+ ions present,
- In water : acid ionises to produce
hydrogen ions, H+

Role of water and the

properties of alkalis
An alkali only shows its alkaline
properties when dissolved in water,
- Without water : no free mobile OHions present,
- In water : alkali ionises to produce
hydroxide ions, OH-

The role of water in showing

the properties of acids and
alkalis
Hydrogen ions ,H+ are responsible for the
acidic properties.
Hydroxide ions, OH- are responsible for
the alkaline properties.
Water is essential for an acid to ionise to
produce hydrogen ions, H+
Water helps a base to ionise to produce
hydroxide ion, OH-

CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
OF ACIDS
1. Acids react with bases/alkali to
form salts and water.
2. Acids react with reactive metals to
produce salts and hydrogen gas, H2.
3. Acids react with carbonates to
produce salt, water and carbon
dioxide, CO2

Reaction of an acid with

bases
Sulphuric acid + copper(II) oxide
copper(II) sulphate + water
H2SO4 + CuO CuSO4 + H2O

Reaction of acid with

reactive metal
Hydrochloric acid + zinc zinc
chloride + hydrogen
2HCl + Zn ZnCl2 + H2

Reaction of an acid with

metal carbonates
Nitric acid + calcium carbonate
calcium nitrate + water +
carbon dioxide
HNO3 + CaCO3 Ca(NO3)2 + H2O
+ CO2

Experiment today
Reaction of acids investigate the
chemical properties.
Get the salt ( solid/crystal)

CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
OF ALKALIS
1.

Alkalis react with acids to form salts and

water.
2. A mixture of an alkali and an ammonium
salt is heated ammonia gas, NH3
produced.
3. Adding and alkali ( OH- ion) to most
cation solutions (metal ions solutions) will
give a precipitate of metal hydroxide