Science Form 2

5.5 Acid and Alkali

~The word acid comes from the Latin word ‘acidus’,
which mean sour.
~Acid in food gives the food a sour and tangy taste.
~Acids used in laboratory are harmful.
~Hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid and nitric acid are
three common acids used in the laboratory.
~has a sour taste
~has a pH value less than 7
~has a corrosive nature
~turns blue litmus paper red
~Reacts with reactive metals such as zinc,
magnesium and iron to produce hydrogen gas.
The hydrogen gives out a squeaky ‘pop' when
tested with a lighted splinter.
# Alkali is the chemical ‘opposite’ of acid
# Alkalis are often used in many household cleaners
such as in bath, sink and glass cleaners.
# Ammonia solution, sodium hydroxide solution and
potassium hydroxide solution are three common
alkalis used in the laboratory.
# has a bitter taste
# has a soapy feel
# has a pH value greater than 7
# has a corrosive nature
# turns red litmus paper blue
# reacts with ammonium salts to release ammonia
when heated
 Activity with Students
Group the substance you taste

Acidic Alkaline
 The properties of acid and alkali:

Properties of Acid Properties of Alkali

• Has a pH value less than7
• Has a sour taste
• Corrosive
• Turns blue litmus to red
• Reacts with most metals
• Has a pH value more than 7
• Has a bitter taste and feels
soapy
• Corrosive
• Turns red litmus to blue
Acidic and Alkaline substance in
daily life
Uses of acid and Alkali in daily
Acid
Sulphuric acid  used in car batteries
 used in making fertilizers, paper, plastic

Hydrochloric acid used to clean metals

 kill the bacteria in our stomach

Nitric Acid used to make explosives

Alkali
Sodium hydroxide used to make paper
 make soap, detergents, plastic

Potassium hydroxide used to dye cloth

 used to remove varnish and paint
1. State the properties of Acid and Alkali….

Properties of Acid Properties of Alkali

• Has a pH value less • Has a pH value more than
than7 7
• Has a sour taste • Has a bitter taste and
• Corrosive feels soapy
• Turns blue litmus to red • Corrosive
• Reacts with most metals • Turns red litmus to blue
 State 1 use of

Hydrochloric acid Sodium hydroxide

kill the bacteria in our stomach make soap, detergents, plastic

1. Acids and alkalis may exist in solids, liquids or
gases.

2. However, acids and alkali will only show their

acidic and alkaline properties when dissolved in
water.

3. For example, when a piece of dry blue litmus

paper is added to solid citric acid, there is no
change in colour.
Solid citric Citric acid
acid In water

Dry blue Blue litmus paper

litmus paper
 Acids need water to show its properties

Solid citric Citric acid

acid In water

Dry blue Blue litmus paper

litmus paper turns red
Solid barium Solid barium
hydroxide hydroxide In water

Dry red Red litmus paper

litmus paper
 Alkalis need water to show its properties

Solid barium
hydroxide Solid barium
hydroxide In water

Dry blue Blue litmus paper

Litmus paper turns red
What happen to red
litmus paper if put in What happen to blue
solid barium litmus paper if put in
hydroxide??? solid citric acid???

How to show the How to show the

properties of barium properties of citric
hydroxide?? acid??

What happen to What happen to

red litmus paper blue litmus paper
after that??? after that???
Aim:
To identify the properties of acid and
alkali.

Problem Statement (Acid):

What are the properties of acid?
Hypothesis:

A: Acid has the pH value less than 7

B: Acid has the sour taste
C: Acid is corrosive
D: Acid will turn the blue litmus to red
E: Acid will react with metal
Materials:
pH paper, colour chart, dilute
hydrochloric acid, lemon, dilute
vinegar, filter paper, red litmus paper,
blue litmus paper, sandpaper,
concentrated hydrochloric acid,
wooden splinter.
Apparatus:
Test tubes, white tile, dropper
Procedures:

A: pH value
1. Dip a piece of pH paper into a test
tube with 3cm3 of dilute hydrochloric
acid.
2. Compare the resulting colour with the
colour chart
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 for lemon juice
and dilute vinegar.
Diagram:

Dilute hydrochloride acid Lemon Juice Dilute vinegar

B: Taste
1. Taste a lemon juice

C: Corrosive Nature (teacher’s demonstration)

Concentrated
Hydrochloric acid

Filter Paper

White tile
D: Effect on litmus paper

Dropper

Red litmus paper

Dilute hydrochloric
acid

White tile Blue litmus paper

E: Reaction with metals

Sand paper
Dilute hydrochloric acid

Magnesium ribbon

Test with lighted splinter

Problem Statement (Alkali):
What are the properties of alkali?

Hypothesis:
A: Alkali has the pH value more than 7
B: Alkali has a feels of soapy
C: Alkali is corrosive
D: Alkali will turn the red litmus to blue
Materials:
pH paper, colour chart, dilute sodium
hydroxide, filter paper, red litmus paper,
blue litmus paper, concentrated sodium
hydroxide, distilled water

Apparatus:
Test tubes, white tile, dropper
Procedure:
A: pH value

1. Dip a piece of pH paper into a test tube with

3cm3 of dilute sodium hydroxide.

1. Compare the resulting colour with the

colour chart

1. Repeat steps 1 and 2 for ammonium

hydroxide and dilute barium hydroxide
Diagram:

Dilute sodium hydroxide ammonium hydroxide dilute barium

hydroxide
B: Feel
1. Feel the dilute sodium hydroxide

C: Corrosive Nature (teacher’s demonstration)

Concentrated
sodium hydroxide

Filter Paper

White tile
D: Effect on litmus paper

Dropper

Red litmus paper

Dilute sodium
hydroxide

White tile Blue litmus paper

Observation:
Acid
Alkali
 Conclusion:
Properties of Acid
• Has a pH value less than7
• Has a sour taste
• Corrosive
• Turns blue litmus to red
• Reacts with most metals
Properties of Alkali
• Has a pH value more than 7
• Has a bitter taste and feels
soapy
• Corrosive
• Turns red litmus to blue
Homework:

Complete the report

Do the note for

• the properties of acid and alkali
• the role of water
• the uses of acid and alkali in daily life.
That all 4 today…………..