Indicators: Indicators are substances which indicate the acidic or basic

nature of the solution by the colour change.

Types of Indicators: There are many types of indicators. Some common
types of indicators are:

1. Natural Indicators: Indicators obtained from natural sources are called

Natural Indicators. Litmus, turmeric, red cabbage, China rose, etc., are
some common natural indicators used widely to show the acidic or basic
character of substances.
Litmus: Litmus is obtained from lichens. The solution of litmus is purple in
colour. Litmus paper comes in two colours - blue and red.
An acid turns blue litmus paper red whereas a base turns red litmus paper
blue.

Turmeric: Turmeric is another natural indicator. Turmeric is yellow in

colour. Turmeric solution or paper turns reddish brown with base.
Turmeric does not change colour with acid.

Red Cabbage: The juice of red cabbage is originally purple in colour. Juice
of red cabbage turns reddish with acid and turns greenish with base.

2. Olfactory Indicator: Substances which change their smell when mixed

with acid or base are known as Olfactory Indicators. For example; Onion,
vanilla etc.
Onion: Paste or juice of onion loses its smell when added with base. It does
not change its smell with acid.

Vanilla: The smell of vanilla vanishes with base, but its smell does not
vanish with an acid.
Olfactory Indicators are used to ensure the participation of visually
impaired students in the laboratory.
3. Synthetic Indicator: Indicators that are synthesized in the laboratory are
known as Synthetic Indicators. For example; Phenolphthalein, methyl
orange, etc.
Phenolphthalein is a colourless liquid. It remains colourless with acid but
turns into pink with a base.
Methyl orange is originally orange in colour. It turns into the red with acid
and turns into yellow with base.

Indicator Original Colour Acid Base

Red litmus Red No Change Blue

Blue litmus Blue Red No change

Turmeric Yellow No Change Reddish brown

Red cabbage
Purple Reddish Greenish
juice
 Phenolphthalein Colourless Colourless Pink

Methyl Orange Orange Red Yellow

Onion ------- No change Smell vanishes

Vanilla ------- No change Smell vanishes

Acid:

Acids are defined as compounds which are sour in taste, turn blue litmus
red, and dissolve in water to produce hydrogen ions [H + (𝑎𝑞)] or
hydronium ions ( H3 O+) the only positively charged ions.

For example: Hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid, nitric acid and acetic acid
when dissolved in water produce hydronium ions.
Types of Acids:
Acids are divided into two types on the basis of their occurrence i.e.,
Natural acids and Mineral acids.
(i) Natural Acids or Organic acids: Acids which are obtained usually from
plants are called organic acids. They contain carbon atom also along with
hydrogen atom.
Examples: Oxalic Acid (COOH)2 , Acetic Acid (CH3COOH).
 They are weak acids and they do not ionize completely in solution.
So, they contain ions as well as molecules.
(ii) Inorganic acids or Mineral acids): Acids which are obtained usually
from minerals are known as inorganic acids. They do not contain carbon
(except carbonic acid H2CO3 ).
Examples: Hydrochloric Acid (HCl), Sulphuric Acid (H2SO4 ), Nitric Acid
(HNO3 )
 They are strong acids. They ionize completely in solution producing
a high concentration of hydronium ions ( H3O+ )
 Carbonic acid ( H2 CO3). is a weak mineral acid. It turns blue litmus
red. It is non-corrosive, and so used in soft drinks.
Properties Of Acids:

Physical properties:
(1) Taste: Acids have a sour taste. Mineral acids like Sulphuric Acid
(H2 SO4), Nitric Acid (HNO3 ) are highly corrosive in nature. Therefore, they
should not be tasted.
(2) Physical state: Some acids are solids and some are liquids at room
temperature
.
(3) Effect on skin: All strong mineral acids have corrosive action on the
skin and cause painful burns. Conc. (H2SO4 ), stains the skin black, conc.
(HNO3 ) makes it yellow and conc. HCl amber colour. Carbonic acid and
organic acids are not corrosive.
(4) They change the colours of indicators blue litmus to red, methyl orange
to red, Turmeric does not change colour with acid, red cabbage turns
reddish with acid
(5) They are electrolytes, i.e., they conduct electricity in the aqueous state.
Chemical Properties of Acid:
(i) Reaction of acids with metal: Acids give hydrogen gas along with
respective salt when they react with a metal.
Metal + Acid → Salt + Hydrogen
Examples:
(a) Hydrogen gas and zinc chloride are formed when hydrochloric acid
reacts with zinc metal.
(b) Hydrogen gas and sodium sulphate are formed when sulphuric acid
reacts with sodium metal.

(c) Hydrogen gas and magnesium chloride is formed when hydrochloric

acid reacts with magnesium metal.

Mg(s + 2HCl (aq) → MgCl2 (aq) + H2 (g)

Magnesium Hydrochloric Acid Magnesium Chloride Hydrogen
(d) Hydrogen gas and iron(II) chloride is formed when hydrochloric acid
reacts with iron metal.

Fe(s) + 2HCl (aq) → FeCl2 (aq) + H2 (g)

Iron Hydrochloric Acid Iron(II) Chloride Hydrogen
 The order of reactivity Na > Mg > Zn > Fe
 Copper does not form any product with an acid.
Test For Hydrogen Gas: The gas evolved after reaction of acid with metal
can be tested by bringing a lighted candle near it. If the gas bums with a
pop sound, then it confirms the evolution of hydrogen gas. Burning with
pop sound is the characteristic test for hydrogen gas.
(ii) Reaction of acids with metal carbonate: Acids give carbon dioxide gas
and respective salts along with water when they react with metal
carbonates.
Metal carbonate + Acid → Salt + Carbon dioxide + Water
Examples:
(a) Hydrochloric acid gives carbon dioxide gas, sodium chloride along with
water when reacts with sodium carbonate.

(b) Sulphuric acid gives calcium sulphate, carbon dioxide gas, calcium
sulphate and water when it reacts with calcium carbonate
(c) Nitric acid gives sodium nitrate, water and carbon dioxide gas when it
reacts with sodium carbonate.

2HNO3 (aq) + Na2 CO3 (aq) → NaNO3 (aq) + H2O(l) + CO2(g)

Nitric Acid Sodium Carbonate Sodium Nitrate Water Carbon dioxide

(iii) Reaction of acid with hydrogen carbonates (bicarbonates): Acids give

carbon dioxide gas, respective salt and water when they react with metal
hydrogen carbonate.
Acid + Metal hydrogen carbonate → Salt + Carbon dioxide + Water
Example:
hydrochloric acid gives sodium sulphate, Carbon dioxide gas and water
when it reacts with sodium bicarbonate.

NaHCO3(aq) + HCl(aq) → NaCl (aq) + H2O(l) + CO2 (g)

Sodium Hydrochloric Sodium Water Carbon dioxide

Bicarbonate Acid Chloride
Test For Evolution of Carbon Dioxide Gas: Carbon dioxide turns lime
water milky when passed through it. This is the characteristic test for
carbon dioxide gas.
Ca(OH)2 + CO2 → CaCO3 + H2O
But when excess of carbon dioxide is passed through lime water, it makes
milky colour of lime water disappear. This happens because of formation
of calcium hydrogen carbonate. As calcium hydrogen carbonate is soluble
in water, thus, the milky colour of solution mixture disappears.

CaCO3 + H2O + CO2 → Ca(HCO3)2

(iv) Reaction with bases: When an acid reacts with a base, it forms salt and
water. As a result, the acidic nature of acid disappears. This process is
called neutralization.
(v) Reaction with metallic oxides: Acids give water and respective salts
when they react with metal oxides.

Acid + Metal Oxide → Salt + Water

For example - Metal oxides like quick lime, i.e., calcium oxide (CaO),
copper (II) oxide (CuO), magnesium oxide (MgO) etc. react with acids to
form salt and water.

Acid Rain:
Acid rain is a by-product of a variety of human activities that releases
oxides of sulphur and nitrogen in the atmosphere. Burning of fossil fuels,
coal, oil, petrol and diesel produce sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide.
They all pollute air. Polluted air also contain many oxidising agents which
produces oxygen due to excessive heat. This oxygen futher combines with
the oxides of sulphur and nitrogen. When it rains, oxides of sulphur and
nitrogen react with rain water and form acids.

2SO2 + O2 + 2H2 O → 2H2 SO4

4NO2 + O2 + 2H2O → 4HNO3

Sulphuric acid and nitric acid formed are washed down to the earth with
water. This is Acid rain.

Harmful Effects Of Acid Rain:

• Acid rain damages the leaves of plants and trees.

• It removes the basic nutrients such as calcium from the soil.

• It causes respiratory ailments in human beings and animals.

• It affects plant and animal life in aquatic ecosystem.

• It corrodes water pipes resulting in leaching of heavy metals, such as

iron, lead and copper, into the drinking water.

• Acid rain damages buildings as it reacts with stone or metals.

CaCO3 + H2 SO4 → CaSO4 + H2O + CO2

General Uses Of Some Acids:

Bases: Bases are A base is either a metallic oxide or a metallic hydroxide or
ammonium hydroxide which reacts with hydronium ions of an acid to
form salt and water only. They are bitter in taste, have soapy touch, turn
red litmus blue
Examples: Sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) – NaOH
Calcium hydroxide – Ca(OH)2
Potassium hydroxide (caustic potash) – (KOH)
 Alkali: An alkali is a basic hydroxide which when dissolve in water
produces [OH]− ions.
 Every alkali is base but not every base is an alkali

Types of Bases:
(a) Strong base:
It undergoes almost complete dissociation in aqueous solution to produce a
high concentration of [OH]− .
Examples: Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and Potassium hydroxide (KOH).
(b) Weak base:
It undergoes only partial dissociation or ionisation in aqueous solution to
produce a low concentration of [OH]− in solution.

Properties of Bases/Alkali:

(a) Physical Properites:

(1) They have a sharp and bitter taste.
(2) They change the colour of indicators.

Indicator Colour Change

Litmus Red to Blue
Methyl orange Orange to yellow
Phenolphthalein Colourless to pink

 Insoluble base do not affect indicators.

(3) They are soapy substances, i.e., they are slippery to touch.
(4) They are strong electrolytes.
(5) They show a mild corrosive action (slight burn) on the skin.