Acids, Bases, & Salts

Acids, Bases,
Buffers & Salts

By
Meroka A,
Biochemistry Department,
KEMU
What is an ACID?
• pH less than 7
• Neutralizes bases
• Forms H + ions in solution
• Corrosive-reacts with most
metals to form hydrogen gas
• Good conductors of electricity
Acids Generate Ions
HNO3 + H2O  H3O+ + NO3

Weak vs. Strong Acids
• Weak Acids do not ionize completely:
Acetic, Boric, Nitrous, Phosphoric,
Sulfurous
• Strong Acids ionize completely:
Hydrochloric, Nitric; Sulfuric, etc.
Common Acids
HCl- hydrochloric- stomach acid
H2SO4- sulfuric acid - car batteries
HNO3 – nitric acid - explosives
HC2H3O2- acetic acid - vinegar
H2CO3-carbonic acid – sodas
H3PO4- phosphoric acid -flavorings
What is a BASE?
• pH greater than 7
• Feels slippery
• Dissolves fats and oils
• Usually forms OH- ions in
solution
• Neutralizes acids
Weak vs. Strong Bases
• Weak Bases: ammonia; potassium
carbonate, sodium carbonate
• Strong Bases: sodium hydroxide; sodium
phosphate; barium hydroxide; calcium
hydroxide
Common Bases
• NaOH- sodium hydroxide (LYE) soaps, drain cleaner
• Mg (OH)2 - magnesium hydroxide-antacids
• Al(OH)3-aluminum hydroxide-antacids, deodorants
• NH4OH-ammonium hydroxide- “ammonia”
Types of Acids and Bases
• In the 1800’s chemical concepts were based on the
reactions of aqueous solutions.
• Svante Arrhenius developed a concept of acids and
bases relevant to reactions in H2O.
• Arrhenius acid – produces hydrogen ions in water.

• Arrhenius base – produce hydroxide ions in water.
A broader ,more modern concept of acids and bases was
developed later.
Bronsted-Lowry acid- donates a hydrogen ion in a

reaction.
Bronsted – Lowry base – accepts a hydrogen in a
reaction.
N/B
Previous terms for acid and base i.e.
Bronsted acid or base
• Conjugate acid- compound formed when
an base gains a hydrogen ion.
• Conjugate base – compound formed when

an acid loses a hydrogen ion.
pH Scale
pH of Common Substances
Timberlake, Chemistry 7th Edition, page 335

Reactions with indicators
Indicator Acid color Neutral Base color
color
Phenolphthalein Colorless Faint pink Dark pink
Bromothymol blue Yellow Green Blue
Litmus Red ----- Blue

pH paper
• pH paper changes
color to indicate a
specific pH value.
Buffers
• A buffer is a solution that resists

changes in pH when small amounts of
acids and bases are added.
Situations in which pH is controlled
• “Heartburn”
• Planting vegetables and flowers
• Fish Tanks and Ponds
• Blood
• Swimming pools
Acids and Bases in Solution
• HCl + H20  H3O + + Cl-
(more hydronium ions, more acidic)
• NaOH in water  Na+ + OH-
(more hydroxide ions, more basic)
• NaOH + HCl  NaCl + HOH
Acid + Base yields type of salt and water
• NH3 + H20  NH4+ + OH-
ammonia gas + water yields ammonium and hydroxide ions
Acid Rain
Pollution in the air (sulfur dioxide, carbon
dioxide, nitrogen dioxide) combines with
water to form various acids.
.
Rapid changes in pH can kill fish and
other organisms in lakes and streams.
Soil pH is affected and can kill plants
and create sinkholes
What is a SALT?
• A salt is a neutral substance produced from the
reaction of an acid and a base.
• Composed of the negative ion of an acid and the
positive ion of a base.
• One of the products of a Neutralization Reaction
• Examples: KCl, MgSO4, Na3PO4
Neutralization Reaction
• A neutralization reaction is the reaction of
an acid with a base to produce salt and
water.
• Example
H2SO4 + NaOH  NaHSO4 + H2O
Digestion and pH
1. Digestion-process by which foods are broken down
into simpler substances.
2. Mechanical digestion-physical process in which food
is torn apart (mouth)
3. Chemical digestion- chemical reactions in which
large molecules are broken down into smaller
molecules. (stomach and small intestines)
pH in the Digestive System
• Mouth-pH around 7. Saliva contains amylase,
amylase an
enzyme which begins to break carbohydrates into
sugars.
• Stomach- pH around 2. 2 Proteins are broken down
into amino acids by the enzyme pepsin.
• Small intestine- pH around 8.
8 Most digestion
ends. Small molecules move to bloodstream
toward cells that use them
The End

Acids, Bases, & Salts

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Acids, Bases,

Buffers & Salts

HNO3 + H2O  H3O+ + NO3

• Arrhenius acid – produces hydrogen ions in water.

Bronsted-Lowry acid- donates a hydrogen ion in a

• Conjugate base – compound formed when

Timberlake, Chemistry 7th Edition, page 335

Bromothymol blue Yellow Green Blue

Litmus Red ----- Blue

• A buffer is a solution that resists

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