ACIDS, BASES AND SALTS

O level Chemistry
By
Waqar Ahmad

Acids
 Acids are those substances which when dissolved in water produces H + ions as the only
positive ions. e.g.
 HCl + H2O → H+1 + Cl-1
 HNO3 + H2O → H+1 + NO3-1
 H2SO4 + H2O → 2H+1 + SO4 2-

Properties of Acids
 Acids have a sour taste.
 Acids give H+ ion as the only positive ion in the aqueous solution.
 Acids turn blue litmus paper red.
Reaction of ACID and METALS
 Acids react with metals which are above hydrogen in the reactivity series to
give salt and hydrogen gas.
Acid + Metal → Salt + Hydrogen
e.g. Mg + H2SO4 → MgSO4 + H2
Fe + HCl → FeCl2 + H2
Exceptions: Lead appears not to react with dilute HCl and H2SO4. A layer
of insoluble lead (II) chloride or sulfate is formed between the lead and the
dilute acid from the initial reaction. It quickly forms a coating around the
metal, preventing further reaction.
Reaction of ACIDS and BASES (Neutralization Reactions)
 Acids react with bases to give salt and water.
Acid + Base → Salt + water
e.g. H2SO4 + 2NaOH → NaCl + H2O
HCl + KOH → KCl + H2O.

Reaction of ACIDS and CARBONATES

  Acid + Carbonate → Salt + carbon dioxide + water
e.g. H2SO4 + Na2CO3 → Na2SO4 + CO2 + H2O
2HCl + MgCO3 → MgCl2 + CO2 + H2O.

Reaction of ACIDS and BICARBONATES

 Acid + Bicarbonate → Salt + carbon dioxide + water
e.g. H2SO4 + 2NaHCO3 → Na2SO4 + CO2 + H2O
2HCl + MgHCO3 → MgCl2 + CO2 + H2O.

Classification of Acids
 Acids are classified as:
1) Strong Acids
2) Weak Acids

1) Strong Acids
Acids that ionize completely in the aqueous solution are known as strong acids. E.g.
Hydrochloric Acid (HCl), Nitric Acid (HNO3), Sulfuric Acid (H2SO4.)
 HCl + H2O → H+1 + Cl-1
 HNO3 + H2O → H+1 + NO3-1
 H2SO4 + H2O → 2H+1 + SO4 2-
2) Weak Acids
Acids that ionize partially in the aqueous solution are known as weak acids. e.g.
Phosphoric acid (H3PO4), all organic acids.

 H3PO4 + H2O ⇋ H+1 + PO43-

Concentrated Acid Solution
That acidic solution which contains large concentration of acid in the aqueous solution e.g.
concentrated H2SO4 solution, concentrated H3PO4 solution.
Dilute Acid Solution
That acidic solution which contains less concentration of acid in the aqueous solution e.g. dilute
H2SO4 solution, dilute H3PO4 solution.
Bases
 Bases are those substances that produce OH-1 ion in the aqueous solution. e.g.
 NaOH + H2O → Na+1 + OH-1
 KOH + H2O → K+1 + OH-1
 NH4OH + H2O → NH4+1 + OH-1

Properties of Bases
 Bases have a bitter taste.
 Bases give OH-1 ion as the only negative ion in the aqueous solution.
 Bases turn red litmus paper blue.

Reaction of BASES and ACIDS (Neutralization Reactions)

 Bases react with acids to give salt and water.
Acid + Base → Salt + water
e.g. H2SO4 + 2NaOH → NaCl + H2O
HCl + KOH → KCl + H2O.

Reaction of BASES with Ammonium compounds

 Bases react with ammonium compounds to give salt and water and ammonia
gas.
Ammonium compounds + Base → Salt + ammonia + water
NH4NO3 + NaOH → NaNO3 + NH3 + H2O
(NH4)2SO4 +2NaOH → Na2SO4 + 2NH3 + 2H2O

Reaction of Bases with Metal Salts

 Base + salt → Salt + metal hydroxide
(Containing (salt of (of Metal A) (of metal B)
Metal A) Metal B)
2 NaOH (aq) + FeSO4 (aq) → Na2SO4 (aq) + Fe (OH)2 (s)

Classification of Bases
  Bases are classified as:
1) Strong Bases
2) Weak Bases

Strong Bases
Bases that ionize completely in the aqueous solution are known as strong bases. E.g.
Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH), Potassium Hydroxide (KOH).
 NaOH + H2O → Na+1 + OH-1
 KOH + H2O → K+1 + OH-1

Weak Bases
Bases that ionize partially in the aqueous solution are known as weak bases. E.g.
Ammonium Hydroxide (NH4OH).

 NH4OH + H2O ⇋ NH4+1 + OH-1

Concentrated Basic Solution
That basic solution which contains large concentration of base in the aqueous solution e.g.
concentrated NaOH solution, concentrated NH4OH solution.
Dilute Basic Solution
That basic solution which contains less concentration of base in the aqueous solution e.g. dilute
KOH solution, dilute NH4OH solution.
pH scale
pH is a scale used to specify how acidic or basic a water-based solution is.
The pH scale has the following features:
1) A solution with pH of 7 is neutral
2) A solution with pH < 7 is acidic. The smaller the pH, the more acidic the solution and
greater the percentage of hydrogen ions in the solution.
3) A solution with a pH > 7 is alkaline. The higher the pH, the more alkaline the solution
and greater the percentage of hydroxide ions in the solution.

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Strong acid weak acid Neutral Weak base Strong Base
Methods of Measurements of pH
1) pH meter
A pH meter is an instrument used to measure acidity or alkalinity of a solution - also
known as pH. A pH probe is dipped into a solution and the meter will show the pH
digitally.

2) Universal Indicators
It can be in the solution form or in the form of pH paper. The pH paper is dipped into the
solution as a result the pH paper will develop some color. This color is then matched with
the color chart. It gives approximate pH value.
Importance of pH
The pH of soil
Most plants grow well in soil that is almost neutral. Plants grow poorly in soil with a very high or
very low pH. Soil can become too acidic for good plant growth due to:
 Excessive use of fertilizers such as ammonium sulphate
 Acid rain from air pollution by sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide
Acidic soil is neutralized by adding calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide to the soil. Excess use
of calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide will make the soil basic.
Loss of nitrogen from Soil
However adding calcium hydroxide causes the loss of nitrogen from the fertilizers such as
ammonium nitrate which have been previously added to soil. This is because bases react with
ammonium compounds (i.e. ammonium nitrate) to give salt and water and ammonia gas.
2NH4NO3 + Ca (OH)2 → Ca(NO3)2, +2NH3 + 2H2O
This ammonia produced as gas is lost from the soil resulting in decrease in the nitrogen content
of the soil.

Oxides
 Oxides are the compounds of
oxygen with other elements

Types of Oxides

Acidic Oxide Basic Oxide Neutral Amphoteric

Or Non-metallic Oxides Or Oxide Oxide
Metallic Oxide
Non-metals form acidic oxides Metals form basic oxides When these Oxides that show
When these oxides are dissolved When these oxides are oxides are dual behavior i.e.
in water they give respective dissolved in water they give dissolved in when these oxides
acidic solutions i.e. have pH less respective basic or alkaline water they are dissolved in
than 7 solutions i.e. have pH greater form neutral acids they behave
Examples than 7 solutions i.e. as bases and
CO2, SO3, P2O5, SiO2, Examples they are when these oxides
SO2 Na2O, K2O, CaO, MgO neither acidic are dissolved in
CO2 + H2O → H2CO3 nor basic. alkalis they show
SO3 + H2O → H2SO4 Na2O + H2O → 2NaOH acidic behavior.
CaO + H2O → Ca(OH)2 Examples i.e. reacts with
They react with bases to form H2O (water) both acids and
salts. They react with acids to form CO(carbon bases.
salt and water monoxide) Examples
CO2 + 2 NaOH → Na2CO3 +H2O Na2O +2HCl → 2NaCl +H2O NO(nitrogen PbO (lead Oxide)
mono oxide) ZnO (zinc Oxide)
Al2O3(Aluminum
Oxide)

Reactions of Amphoteric Oxides

Al2O3 (S) + HCl (aq) → AlCl3 (aq) + H2O (l)
Al2O3 (S) + 2NaOH (aq) → 2NaAlO2 (aq) (Sodium aluminate) + H2O (l)

ZnO(S) + H2SO4 (aq) → ZnSO4 (aq) + H2O (l)

ZnO(S) + 2NaOH (aq) → 2Na2ZnO2 (aq) (Sodium zincate) + H2O (l)