Velammal vidyalaya, alapakkam

High school compartment

Chapter 2 : Acid base and salts

1. You are given three test tubes. The three test tubes contain distilled water,
acidic solution and the basic solution respectively. There is only red litmus
paper available in order to identify what is there in each test tube. How will
you find out what is in each of the test tubes?
We can identify the content in each of the test tubes using red litmus paper. This
can be done by noticing the colour change of the red litmus paper.

 If the red litmus paper changes to blue colour the solution is a basic solution.
 If the red litmus paper changes to red colour the solution is acidic solution.
 If you did not observe any colour change then the solution is distilled water
2.Why should curd and sour substances not be kept in brass and copper
vessels?
Curd and sour food substances contain acids; these acidic substances combine with
metal. This reaction turns food to poison which damage people’s health.
3. Which gas is usually liberated when an acid reacts with a metal? Illustrate
with an example. How will you test for the presence of this gas?
When an acid reacts with any metal, salt and hydrogen gas are formed.
Metal + Acid → Salt + Hydrogen gas
4. Metal compound A reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid to produce
effervescence. The gas evolved extinguishes a burning candle. Write a
balanced chemical equation for the reaction if one of the compounds formed is
calcium chloride.
As metal compound released is Calcium Chloride the gas evolved here is CO2.
Hence metal A should be Calcium Carbonate. Hence the reaction between Calcium
Carbonate and HCl is
CaCO3 (s)+2Hcl(Aq) → CaCl2( Aq)+ Co2 (g)+H2O (l)
5.Why do HCl, HNO3, etc., show acidic characters in aqueous solutions while
solutions of compounds like alcohol and glucose do not show acidic character?
Release of H+ ion in water will make a compound acidic or non- acidic.
Acids are the substance which upon dissociating with water results in production
of Hydrogen ions. Some compounds show acidic character as they dissociate in the
aqueous solution which results in the production of hydrogen ions (acids like HCl,
HNO3).
Compounds similar to glucose or alcohol do contain hydrogen element but they do
not show signs of acidic nature. The fact that the hydrogen in them will not
separate as like the hydrogen in the acids. They will not separate to become
hydrogen ions, on dissolving in the water.
Hence dissociation of hydrogen gas will decide the acidic or non-acidic nature of a
compound.
6. Why does an aqueous solution of an acid conduct electricity?
Charged particles are responsible for the conductance of electricity in an acid.
These charged particles called as ions are the reason behind conductance of
electricity in acid.
7. Why does dry HCl gas not change the colour of the dry litmus paper?
HCl does not give out Hydrogen ions, therefore HCL does not show any acidic
behaviour and colour of the litmus paper remain the same on reacting with HCl
gas.
8. While diluting an acid, why is it recommended that the acid should be
added to water and not water to the acid?
While diluting an acid, it is recommended that the acid should be added to water
and not water to the acid because if water is added to concentrated acid, it release
huge amount of heat which may result in explosion and can cause acid burns o
face, clothes and body parts. Hence it is safe to add acid to water but not water to
acid.
9. How is the concentration of hydronium ions (H3O+) affected when a
solution of an acid is diluted?
When acid is added to water there will be a fixed amount of hydronium present in
the fixed volume of solution. If we dilute the solution hydronium ion per volume of
solution decrease, this in-turn decreases Hydronium concentration in the solution.
10. How is the concentration of hydroxide ions (OH– ) affected when excess
base is dissolved in a solution of sodium hydroxide?
When base is dissolved in sodium hydroxide solution its hydroxide ions increase
but it will reach saturation at some point. After saturation point hydroxide ion
concentration is not affected even after adding base further.
11.You have two solutions, A and B. The pH of solution A is 6 and pH of
solution B is 8. Which solution has more hydrogen ion concentration? Which
of this is acidic and which one is basic?
In order to find the hydrogen ion concentration, we can use the rule that states,
“The pH of any solution is inversely proportional to the hydrogen ion
concentration”. Therefore, it means that the solution that has a lower pH number
will have a higher hydrogen ion concentration. Hence,solution A will have a higher
hydrogen ion concentration. In addition, solution B will be basic and A will be
acidic.
12.What effect does the concentration of H+(aq) ions have on the nature of the
solution?
Hydrogen ion concentration decides the nature of the solution. If Hydrogen ion
concentration increase then solution turn acidic and similarly if Hydrogen ion
concentration decreases then solution turn basic.
13.Do basic solutions also have H+(aq) ions? If yes, then why are these basic?
Basic solutions has H+ ions, but hydroxide ions present in basic solution are more
in basic solution . Hence Hydroxide ions turn solution to basic.
14. Under what soil condition do you think a farmer would treat the soil of his
fields with quick lime (calcium oxide) or slaked lime (calcium hydroxide) or
chalk (calcium carbonate)?
If the soil is acidic in nature ( Ph below 7) then such field should be treated with
quick lime (calcium oxide) or slaked lime (calcium hydroxide) or chalk (calcium
carbonate).
15. What is the common name of the compound CaOCl2?
Common name of CaOCl2 is bleaching powder.
16.Name the substance which on treatment with chlorine yields bleaching
powder
The substance which on treatment with chlorine yields bleaching powder is
Calcium hydroxide.
17. Name the sodium compound which is used for softening hard water.
Sodium carbonate is the compound which is used for softening hard water.
18.What will happen if a solution of sodium hydrocarbonate is heated? Give
the equation of the reaction involved.
Heating sodium hydrocarbonate yields sodium carbonate and carbon dioxide gas is
liberated in the process.
2NaHCO3 → heat → Na2CO3 + H2O + CO2
19. Write an equation to show the reaction between Plaster of Paris and
water.
The chemical equation for the reaction of Plaster of Pans and water is
CaSO4.1/2H2O+3/2H2O → CaSO4.2H2O
20. Write word equations and then balanced equations for the reaction taking
place when
(a) Dilute sulphuric acid reacts with zinc granules.
(b) Dilute hydrochloric acid reacts with magnesium ribbon.
(c) Dilute sulphuric acid reacts with aluminium powder.
(d) Dilute hydrochloric acid reacts with iron filings.
(a) dilute sulphuric acid reacts with zinc granules :
⇒ dilute sulphuric acid + zinc → Zink Sulphate + Hydrogen Gas
⇒ H2SO4(aq) + Zn → ZnSO4(aq) + H2(g)
(b) dilute hydrochloric acid reacts with magnesium ribbon.
⇒ dilute Hydrochloric + Magnesium → Magnesium Chloride + Hydrogen Gas
⇒ 2HCl(aq) + Mg → MgCl2(aq) + H2(g)
(c) dilute sulphuric acid reacts with aluminium powder.
⇒ dilute Sulphuric Acid + Aluminium → Aluminium Sulphate + Hydrogen Gas
⇒ 3H2SO4(aq) + 2Al(s) → Al2(SO4)3(aq) + 3H2(g)
(d) dilute hydrochloric acid reacts with iron filings.
⇒ dilute Hydrochloric Acid + Iron → Ferrous Chloride + Hydrogen Gas
⇒ 6HCl(aq) + 3Fe(s) → 3FeCl2(aq) + 3H2(g)

21. Compounds such as alcohols and glucose also contain hydrogen but are
not categorised as acids.
Describe an Activity to prove it
Insert two nails on the wooden or rubber cork and place them on a beaker as shown
in figure. Connect iron nail to a bulb, 6 volt battery and a wire connected to switch.
Pour some alcohol or glucose so as to dip the nails in glucose or alcohol. Turn the
switch on and you the see the bulb not glowing despite of connection to switch.
Now empty the beaker and add HCL solution. This time bulb glows. This proves
acid can conduct electricity but alcohol and glucose does not conduct electricity.

22.Why does distilled water not conduct electricity, whereas rain water does?

 Distilled water does not contain any ionic compounds in it.

 Whereas rainwater has a lot, more compounds.
 Rainwater has dissolved acidic gas such as carbon dioxide from the air and
that forms carbonic acid. This means that it has hydrogen ions and carbonate
ions. Therefore, with the presence of acids, rainwater can conduct electricity.
23. Why do acids not show acidic behaviour in the absence of water?
The acidic behaviour from acids is because of the presence of hydrogen ions.
Hydrogen ions can only be produced in the presence of water and therefore water
is definitely needed if acids are to show their acidic behaviour
24. Five solutions A,B,C,D and E when tested with universal indicator showed
pH as 4,1,11,7 and 9, respectively. Which solution is
(a) neutral?
(b) Strongly alkaline?
(c) Strongly acidic?
(d) Weakly acidic?
(e) Weakly alkaline?
In increasing order of hydrogen ion concentration:
pH 11(B) → pH 9(E) → pH 7(A) → pH 4(D) → pH 1 (B)
PH11-Strongly alkaline
pH9- weakly alkaline
PH7-Neutral
pH-4- Weakly acidic
pH-1- Strongly acidic
25. Equal lengths of magnesium ribbons are taken in test tubes A and B.
Hydrochloric acid (HCl) is added to test tube A, while acetic acid
(CH3COOH) is added to test tube B. Amount and concentration taken for
both the acids are same. In which test tube will the fizzing occur more
vigorously and why?
HCl is a strong acid whereas acetic is a weaker acid. Fizzing occurs because of the
production of the hydrogen gas obtained due to reaction of the acid on the
magnesium ribbon. Since Hcl is a very strong acid there is a lot of liberation of
hydrogen gas from test tube A. therefore, more fizzing take place in test tube A.
26. Fresh milk has a pH of 6. How do you think the pH will change as it turns
into curd? Explain your answer.
Fresh milk is turned to curd due to production of lactic acid. Lactic acid reduces
the pH of the milk.
27. A milkman adds a very small amount of baking soda to fresh milk.
(a) Why does he shift the pH of the fresh milk from 6 to slightly alkaline?
(b) Why does this milk take a long time to set as curd?
(a)He shifted the pH of the fresh milk from 6 to slightly alkaline to prevent milk
from getting sour due to production of lactic acid.
(b) This milk takes long time to set into curd because the lactic acid produced here
first neutralises the pH then the pH is reduced to turn milk to curd.
28. Plaster of Paris should be stored in a moisture-proof container. Explain
why?
Plaster of Paris should be stored in moisture-proof container because moisture can
affect plaster of Paris by slowing down the setting of the plaster because of
hydration. This will turn plaster useless.
29. What is a neutralisation reaction? Give two examples.
The reaction of the acid + base gives a product of salt + water, which is considered
as neutralization reaction.
Examples:
NaOH + HCl → NaCl + H2O
Mg(OH)2 + H2CO3 → MgCO3 + 2H2O
30.. Give two important uses of washing soda and baking soda.

Washing soda Baking soda

1. It is used as an 1. It can be used to test the garden soil for
electrolyte acidity. If bubbles are developed then the soil Is
too acidic
2. It can be used 2. If used on washing car then it will remove
domestically as water softener dead bug bodies without damaging the colour or
for laundry. the paint on the car.