Chemistry Class 10 Chapter 2: Acids, Bases & Salts Syed Shan Ali

Short Questions
Q.1 Discuss the properties of acid and base.
Properties of acids:
 Generally, acids have a sour taste.
 Acids react with bases to form salt and water.
 Acids turn blue litmus paper red.
 Acids have a pH value of less than 7.
 Acids donate hydrogen ions (H+) when dissolved in water.
Examples:
 Hydrochloric acid (HCl ⇌ H+ + Cl-)
 Acetic acid (CH3COOH ⇌ CH3COO- + H+)

Properties of bases:
 Bases have a bitter taste and slippery feel.
 Bases react with acids to form salt and water.
 Bases turn red litmus paper blue.
 Bases have a pH value of more than 7.
 Bases donate hydroxyl ions ( OH- ) when dissolved in water.
Examples:
 Sodium hydroxide (NaOH ⇌ Na++OH-)
 Calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2 ⇌ Ca+2 + 2OH- )

Q.2 Elaborate the Arrhenius concept of acid and base with suitable example?
The Arrhenius concept of acids and bases was proposed by Swedish chemist Svante Arrhenius in
1884. This concept, describes acid and base as following,
“An acid is a substance that releases hydrogen ions (H+) in aqueous solution.”
“A base is a substance that releases hydroxide ions (OH-) in aqueous solution.”
Examples:
 Hydrochloric acid (HCl ⇌ H+ + Cl-)
HCl is an acid as it is H+ ion donor
 Sodium hydroxide (NaOH ⇌ Na++OH-)
NaOH is a base as it is OH- ion donor
Limitations: One limitation of the Arrhenius concept is that it only applies to aqueous solutions, where the
solvent is water. It does not explain the behavior of acids and bases in non-aqueous solvents or in the gas
phase.

Q.3 What is Bronsted-Lowry acid-base theory?

It is an extension of the Arrhenius concept of acids and bases proposed by Danish chemist Johannes
Bronsted and English chemist Thomas Lowry in 1923. According to this theory,
“An acid is a substance that donates a proton (H+) to another substance”
“A base is a substance that accepts a proton (H+) from another substance”
Examples:
 Hydrochloric acid (HCl + H2O ⇌ H3O+ + Cl-)
HCl is an acid as it is Proton (H+) donor
 Ammonia (NH3 + H2O ⇌ NH4++OH-)
Ammonia is a base as it is Proton (H+) acceptor
Advantage: It applies to any solvent, such as ethanol or acetone, not just water and also applied to gases.
Chemistry Class 10 Chapter 2: Acids, Bases & Salts Syed Shan Ali

Q.4 What are conjugate acid base pairs? Explain with examples.
a conjugate acid-base pair consists of two species related to each other by the transfer of a proton in an acid-
base reaction.
Conjugate acid: “It is the species formed when a base accepts a proton”
Example: NH3 + H2O ⇌ NH4+ + OH-
(base) (acid) (conjugate acid) (conjugate base)
Conjugate base: “It is the species formed when an acid donates a proton.”
Example: HCl + H 2O ⇌ H3O+ + Cl-
(acid) (base) (conjugate acid) (conjugate base)
Q.5 Classify the following solutions as acidic, basic or neutral.
i. A solution that has [H+] = 1 × 10-4 mol.dm-3
It is acidic, its pH = 4
ii. A solution that has [H+] = 1 × 10-11 mol.dm-3
It is basic, its pH = 11
iii. A solution that has [OH-] = 1 × 10-9 mol.dm-3
It is acidic, its pOH = 9 and pH = 5
iv. A solution that has [OH-] = 1 × 10-3 mol.dm-3
It is basic, its pOH = 3 and pH = 11
Q.6 Elaborate the ionization equation of water.
The ionization of water is a chemical reaction in which a small fraction of water molecules dissociates into
ions. The ionization of water occurs because of the self-ionization of water, which is the reaction between
two water molecules to form a hydronium ion (H3O+) and a hydroxide ion (OH-).
2H2O ⇌ H3O+ + OH-
The equilibrium constant expression is given as,
[𝐻 𝑂 ][𝑂𝐻 ]
𝐾𝑐 =
[𝐻 𝑂]
Kc [𝐻 𝑂] = [𝐻 𝑂 ][𝑂𝐻 ]
Kc [𝐻 𝑂] = Kw
Kw = [𝐻 𝑂 ][𝑂𝐻 ]
The concentration of H3O and OH ions in pure water at 25°C is 1.0 × 10-7 mol.dm-3. This concentration is
+ -

known as the ionic product constant of water (Kw) and is given by:
Kw = [𝐻 𝑂 ][𝑂𝐻 ] = 1.0 × 10-14
The ionization of water plays an important role in many chemical and biological processes, it also
determines the electrical conductivity and pH of aqueous solutions.
Chemistry Class 10 Chapter 2: Acids, Bases & Salts Syed Shan Ali

Q.7 Define the following terms;

a) pH: pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity of a solution.
Definition: It is defined as “The negative logarithm of the hydrogen ions (H+) concentration in
moles per liter (M) of a solution”
Representation: pH = -log[H+]
The lower the pH, the higher the concentration of H+ ions and the stronger the acidity of the solution.
Similarly, the higher the pH, the lower the concentration of H+ ions and the stronger the basicity of the
solution.
b) Indicator: “An indicator is a substance that is used to determine the pH of a solution or to detect the
endpoint of an acid-base titration, generally by change in color.”
Example: Litmus shows red in acid, blue in basic solution.
Phenolphthalein is colorless in acid, pink in basic solution.
c) Neutralization: Neutralization is a chemical reaction between an acid and a base that results in the
formation of a salt and water.
Example: HCl + NaOH → NaCl + H2O
The resulting salt may be neutral, acidic or basic depending on the complete or partial neutralization
reaction.
d) Titration: “Titration is an analytical technique used to determine the concentration of an unknown
substance in a solution by reacting it with a solution of a known concentration.”
aA + tT → Product
This is achieved by slowly adding the known solution, called the titrant, to the unknown solution,
called the analyte, until the reaction is complete.
Q.8 Define Buffer. What is its composition? Discuss its importance in our daily life.
Definition: “A buffer is a solution that can resist changes in pH when small amounts of acid or base are
added to it.”
Composition: A buffer solution typically consists of a weak acid or base, with its respective conjugate base
or acid
Example: HCl + H 2O ⇌ H3O+ + Cl-
(acid) (base) (conjugate acid) (conjugate base)
Importance in daily life: Buffers play a crucial role in maintaining the pH of biological fluids such as
blood, saliva, and digestive fluids. They are used in food and beverage production to maintain the desired
pH and prevent spoilage. Buffers are essential in many laboratory and chemical procedures.
Section B (Detailed Questions)
Q.1 Describe Salts, preparation of salts and types of salts.
Definition: “A salt is an ionic compound composed of a cation(from base) and an anion (from acid)”.
Salts are generally formed by the reaction of an acid and a base, which results in the neutralization of the
acid and the formation of a salt and water.
Preparation of salts: There are several methods for preparing salts, some of them are;
a) Action of acids on metals: HCl + Zn → ZnCl2 + H2 (Hydrogen gas is released in reaction)
b) Action of acids on metal oxides: H2SO4 + CaO → CaSO4 + H2O
c) Action of acids on metal carbonates: H2SO4 + MgCO3 → MgSO4 +CO2 + H2O
d) Action of acids on metal bicarbonates: HCl + NaHCO3 → NaCl +CO2 + H2O (Carbondioxide gas is
released in reaction with carbonates)
e) Action of acids with bases: HCl + NaOH → NaCl + H2O
f) Action of metals with bases: Al + NaOH → NaAlO2 + H2
Chemistry Class 10 Chapter 2: Acids, Bases & Salts Syed Shan Ali

Types of salts: There are several types of salts, including:

Neutral salts: The salts that are formed by complete neutralization of an acid by a base are called neutral salt.
HCl + NaOH → NaCl + H2O

Acidic salts: The salts that are formed by partial neutralization of an acid by a base are called Acidic salt,
For eg:- NaHSO4, KH2PO4 etc. Such salts produce acidic solution when dissolved in water
H2SO4 + NaOH → NaHSO4 + H2O
Basic salts: The salts that are formed by partial neutralization of a base by an acid are called Basic salt, For
For eg:- White lead (2PbCO3·Pb(OH)2), Na2CO3 etc. Such salts produce basic solution when dissolved in
water.
H2CO3 + 2NaOH → Na2CO3 + 2H2O
Q.2 Write down the uses of some salts.
1. Sodium chloride (NaCl), or table salt, is used as a seasoning and preservative in food, as well as in
the production of chlorine and caustic soda.
2. Calcium chloride (CaCl2) is used as a de-icer and dust suppressant on roads, as well as in the
production of food, beverages, and pharmaceuticals.
3. Potassium chloride (KCl) is used as a fertilizer and in the production of potassium hydroxide, which
is used in the manufacture of soaps and detergents.
4. Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), or baking soda, is used as a leavening agent in baking, as well as in
antacids and as a cleaning agent.
5. Sodium carbonate (Na2CO3), or washing soda, is used in the production of glass, detergents, and
soaps, as well as in water softening and as a pH regulator.
6. Magnesium sulfate (MgSO4), or Epsom salt, is used as a fertilizer, in the production of paper, and as
a component in bath salts and cosmetic products.
7. Ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) is used as a fertilizer and in the production of explosives.
8. Copper sulfate (CuSO4) is used as a fungicide and algaecide, as well as in the production of
pigments, dyes, and other chemicals.
9. Iron sulfate (FeSO4) is used as a fertilizer and in the treatment of iron-deficiency anemia.
10. Silver nitrate (AgNO3) is used in photography, as a component in some antiseptics, and in the
production of other silver compounds.
Q.3 Explain in detail that how water ionization is related to pH of a solution.
The ionization of water produces equal amounts of H + and OH- ions according to the equation:
H2O ⇌ H+ + OH-
The equilibrium constant for this reaction is known as the ion product constant for water, Kw, and is
equal to the concentration of H+ ions multiplied by the concentration of OH- ions:
Kw = [H+][OH-]
At 25°C, the value of Kw is 1.0 × 10-14 mol2/L2. This means that the product of the concentration of H+
and OH- ions in pure water is always 1.0 × 10-14 mol2/L2.
Using this equation, the pH of a solution can be calculated based on the concentration of H+ ions:
pH = -log[H+]
Similarly, the pOH of a solution can be calculated based on the concentration of OH- ions:
pOH = -log[OH-]
The pH and pOH of a solution are related to each other by the equation:
pH + pOH = 14
Chemistry Class 10 Chapter 2: Acids, Bases & Salts Syed Shan Ali
This means that as the concentration of H+ ions increases (resulting in a lower pH), the concentration of
OH- ions decreases (resulting in a higher pOH), and vice versa. Therefore, the ionization of water is
crucial in determining the pH and acidity or basicity of a solution, as measured on the pH scale.
The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14, with a pH of 7 being neutral (indicating equal concentrations of H+
and OH- ions), a pH below 7 being acidic (indicating a higher concentration of H+ ions), and a pH above
7 being basic (indicating a higher concentration of OH- ions).
Section C Numericals
Numerical 1: Calculate pH of 5M NaOH solution.
Data: Solution:
NaOH ⇌ Na++OH- pOH = - log[OH-]
[OH-] = 5M pOH = - log[5]
pH = ?? required pOH = - 0.7

pH + pOH = 14
pH + (-0.7) = 14
pH - 0.7 = 14
pH = 14 + 0.7
pH = 14.7

Numerical 2: A solution of H2SO4 has a pH of 1.05. Calculate its pOH and [H+]ion concentration.
Data: Solution:
pH = 1.05 pOH + pH = 14
pOH = ?? required pOH + 1.05 = 14
[H+] = ?? required pOH = 14 – 1.05
pOH = 12.95

-log[H+] = pH
log[H+] = -pH
[H+] = Antilog (-pH)
[H+] = Antilog (-1.05)
[H+] = 0.0891
[H+] = 8.91 × 10-2 mol.dm-3

Numerical 3: The [H+] of a solution is 1 × 10-8 mol.dm-3. What is pH of solution?

Data: Solution:
pH = ?? required pH = - log [H+]
[H+] = 1 × 10-8 mol.dm-3 pH = - log [1 × 10-8]
pH = - (-8)
pH = 8