CHAPTER 2ACIDS, BASES AND SALTS

Acids have H+ ion and bases have OH- ion in common.

Activity:

Aim : To investigate whether all compounds containing hydrogen are acids.

Procedure: Refer activity 2.8 pg.no.22

Observation: (i) The bulb glows in the case of HCl and H2SO4.
(ii) The bulb doesn’t glow in the case of glucose and alcohol.

Inference : (i) Glowing of the bulb indicates that there is a flow of electric current through the

acidic solution due to the presence of H+ ions.

(ii) The bulb doesn’t glow as there is no flow of electric current through glucose and

alcohol due to the absence of H+ ions.

Conclusion: All compounds containing hydrogen are not acids.

Acids do not show acidic behavior in the absence of water.

Aim : To investigate whether acidic behavior is shown in the absence of water.

Procedure: Refer activity 2.9 pg.no.23

Observation: (i) There is no change in the colour of dry blue litmus paper.

(ii) The colour of moist blue litmus paper turns red.

Inference: HCl gas shows acidic behavior in the presence of water.

Conclusion: The acidic behavior of acids is due to H+ (aq) or H3O+ ions produced only in the
presence of water.

HCl + H2O → H3O+ + Cl-

H+ + H2O → H3O+

(Refer fig 2.4 pg 23)

pH- Measurement of Strength of Acid and Base

• Universal indicator is a mixture of several indicators that shows different colours at

different concentrations of hydrogen ions in a solution.

• pH scale – A scale for measuring hydrogen ion concentration in a solution is called pH

scale.

* pH stands for the power of hydrogen ion concentration in a solution.

* On the pH scale we can measure pH generally from 0 (very acidic) to 14 (very alkaline).
 * Higher the hydronium ion concentration, lower is the pH value.

* The pH of a neutral solution is 7. pH less than 7 represent an acidic solution. pH

value greater than 7 represents a basic solution.

Importance of pH in everyday life : Refer T.B pgs 26 and 27

Strength of an Acid and a Base

Strong acids and Weak acids

Strength of an acid depends on the number of H+ ions produced.

Strong acids are acids that produce more H+ ions, Weak acids produce less H+ ions.

STRONG ACIDS WEAK ACIDS

Hydrochloric acid HCl Acetic acid CH3COOH
Sulphuric acid H2SO4 Carbonic acid H2CO3
Nitric acid HNO3 Oxalic acid H2C2O4
Phosphoric acid H3PO4
Strong bases and Weak bases

Strength of a base depends on the number of OH- ions produced.

Strong bases are bases that produce more OH- ions, Weak bases produce less OH- ions

STRONG BASES WEAK BASES

Sodium hydroxide NaOH Ammonium hydroxide NH4OH

Potassium hydroxide KOH Aluminium hydroxide Al(OH)3

Calcium hydroxide Ca(OH)2 Zinc hydroxide Zn(OH)2

Copper hydroxide Cu(OH)2

Salts : Salts are formed by the neutralization reaction of acid and base. Salts are of 3 types :
( i ) Neutral salts (ii)Acidic salts (iii) Basic salts

Neutral salts are formed when a strong acid reacts with a strong base .
Eg.Sodium chloride ( NaCl ) , Potassium sulphate ( K2SO4 )
Acidic salts are formed when a strong acid reacts with a weak base

Eg. Zinc sulphate( ZnSO4 ) , Ammonium chloride( NH4Cl )

Basic salts are formed when a strong base reacts with a weak acid

Eg.Sodium carbonate( Na2CO3 ), Sodium acetate.( CH3COONa )

IMPORTANT CHEMICALS FROM SODIUM CHLORIDE

1. Sodium hydroxide (NaOH)

Preparation: (Chlor – Alkali process)

When electricity is passed through an aqueous solution of sodium chloride (called brine), it
decomposes to form sodium hydroxide, chlorine and hydrogen. The process is called chlor-
alkali process. (Refer fig.2.8 pg.no 30)

2NaCl + 2H2O → 2NaOH + Cl2 + H2

Uses of NaOH, Cl2 and H2 – Refer pg 30

2. Bleaching powder (Calcium oxychloride, CaOCl2)

Preparation: It is produced by the action of chlorine on dry slaked lime.

Ca(OH)2 + Cl2 → CaOCl2 + H2O

Uses - Refer pg 31

3. Baking soda ( Sodium hydrogencarbonate, NaHCO3)

Preparation: It is prepared by passing CO2 and NH3 through an aqueous solution of NaCl.

NaCl + H2O + CO2 + NH3 →NH4Cl + NaHCO3

Properties: 1. Non- corrosive base

2. On heating , it decomposes into Na2CO3, CO2 and H2O

2NaHCO3 → Na2CO3 + H2O +CO2

Heat

Uses:

1. For making baking powder, which is a mixture of baking soda and a mild edible acid such as

Tartaric acid.

When baking powder is heated or mixed in water, the following reaction takes place.

NaHCO3 + H+ → CO2 + H2O + sodium salt of acid.

 Carbondioxide produced during the reaction causes bread or cake to rise making them soft and
fluffy.

2. as an antacid, being alkaline neutralizes excess acid in the stomach.

3. in soda-acid fire extinguisher.

4. Washing soda (Sodium carbonate decahydrate, Na2CO3.10H2O)

Preparation: On heating baking soda, we get sodium carbonate. Recrystallisation of sodium

carbonate gives washing soda.

Na2CO3 + 10H2O → Na2CO3.10H2O

Uses: Refer pg 32

Salts which contain water of crystallization are called hydrated salt.

e.g. CuSO4.5H2O, FeSO4.7H2O

Anhydrous salt

When a hydrated salt gives out water of crystallization, it becomes anhydrous.

heat
CuSO4.5H2O → CuSO4 + 5 H2O

(blue) (white)

Plaster of Paris (CaSO4.½H2O)

When gypsum (CaSO4.2H2O) is heated at 373 K, it decomposes forming plaster of paris.

373K
CaSO4.2H2O →CaSO4 ½H2O + 1½H2O

Uses:

1. Used by doctors as plaster for supporting fractured bones in the right position.

Reason- Plaster of Paris on mixing with water ,changes to gypsum giving a hard solid mass.

CaSO4½H2O + 1½H2O → CaSO4.2H2O

For making toys, materials for decoration and for making surfaces smooth