Grade 10 ↓
Acids, Bases and Salts
In the study of chemistry, acids, bases, and salts are essential components that describe many of the chemical reactions and properties of substances that occur in everyday life. Understanding these concepts will help us understand why certain chemicals behave the way they do. This guide will explain these fundamental ideas in a simple way.
What are acids?
Acids are substances that can donate protons (H +)
to another substance. They often taste sour and can be corrosive. Common household acids include vinegar (acetic acid) and lemon juice (citric acid).
HCl → H + + Cl -
This reaction shows that hydrochloric acid (HCl)
dissociates in water to produce hydrogen ions (H +)
and chloride ions (Cl -)
.
Figure 1: Dissociation of HCl into H + and Cl−
Examples of acids include:
- Acetic acid: Found in vinegar, used in cooking and cleaning.
- Citric acid: Found in citrus fruits like lemons and oranges.
- Hydrochloric acid: Found in the stomach, helps with digestion.
What are the bases?
Bases are substances that can accept protons (H +)
or donate hydroxide ions (OH -)
. They taste bitter and are slippery to the touch. Common bases used in the household include baking soda and soap, which are known for their cleaning properties.
NaOH → Na + + OH -
This equation shows that sodium hydroxide (NaOH)
dissociates in water to form sodium ions (Na +)
and hydroxide ions (OH -)
.
Figure 2: Dissociation of NaOH into Na + and OH –
Common examples of bases include:
- Sodium Hydroxide: Used in drain cleaners and soaps.
- Ammonia: Found in many household cleaning agents.
- Magnesium hydroxide: Known as milk of magnesia, it is used as an antacid.
Understanding pH
The strength of an acid or base is measured on the pH scale, which ranges from 0 to 14. pH 7 is considered neutral, an example of which is pure water. Acids have a pH less than 7 and bases have a pH greater than 7.
Figure 3: pH scale representation
Some examples to illustrate pH value:
- Lemon juice: pH about 2, which makes it acidic.
- Pure water: pH 7, neutral.
- Soap: pH around 9 to 10, which makes it alkaline.
What are salts?
Salts are compounds formed when an acid reacts with a base, containing positive ions (cations)
and negative ions (anions)
. A common example of a salt is table salt (NaCl)
.
HCl + NaOH → NaCl + H 2 O
In this neutralization reaction, hydrochloric acid (HCl)
reacts with sodium hydroxide (NaOH)
to form sodium chloride (NaCl)
and water (H 2 O)
.
Figure 4: Reaction forming NaCl
Fail
Neutralization is a chemical reaction in which acids and bases combine to form water and a salt. This results in a solution that is neither acidic nor alkaline. This is important in a variety of applications, such as treating stomach acidity with antacids.
Example:
Consider the reaction between hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide:
HCl + NaOH → NaCl + H 2 O
Here, the acid (HCl)
and base (NaOH)
neutralize each other, forming neutral salt (NaCl)
and water (H 2 O)
.
Properties and applications of salts
- Sodium Chloride (NaCl): Used in cooking and food preservation.
- Calcium carbonate (CaCO 3): Found in chalk, limestone, and used in construction.
- Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO 3): Also known as baking soda, it is used in baking and cleaning.
Conjugate acid-base pair
Every acid or base reaction produces a conjugate pair. An acid becomes its conjugate base after donating a proton, while a base becomes its conjugate acid after accepting a proton.
Example:
Consider the response:
NH 3 + H 2 O ↔ NH 4 + + OH -
Here, NH 3
(ammonia) is a base and accepts a proton to become NH 4 +
(ammonium), which is its conjugate acid. H 2 O
(water) acts as an acid and accepts a proton to become OH -
(hydroxide), which is its conjugate base.
Indicator
Indicators are substances used to determine whether a solution is acidic or basic. They change color depending on the pH of the solution.
- Litmus: Turns red in acid and blue in alkali.
- Phenolphthalein: Colourless in acid and pink in alkali.
- Methyl orange: Red in acid and yellow in alkali.
Indicators aid in titrations, where acid-base reactions are used to find the concentration of a solution.
Conclusion
Acids, bases, and salts play important roles in chemistry and our daily lives. Acids donate protons, bases accept them, and salts are the products of their neutralization reactions. Understanding these substances helps us understand many chemical processes and their practical applications.