ACIDS & BASES

Definition of acid/ base/ alkali Properties of acid/ base/ alkali Role of water on acid / base

ACID AND BASE

Meaning: An acid is a chemical substance which ionises in water to produce hydrogen ions, H+ or hydroxonium ion, H3O+.

A base is a chemical substance which reacts with acid to produce salt and water A alkali is a chemical substance which ionizes in water to produce hydroxide ions, OH2

Strong Acid, Weak Acid

Strong acid: Acid which ionizes completely when dissolve in water to produce high concentration of hydrogen ion, H+ Example: HCl, HNO3, H2SO4 HCl H+ + ClH+ + H2O H3O+ (Hydroxonium ion)
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Cont.
Weak acid: Acid which ionises partially when dissolve in water to produce low concentration of hydrogen ion, H+ Example: Ethanoic acid CH3COOH CH3COO- + H+

Strong Alkali, Weak Alkali

Strong alkali: Alkali which ionizes completely when dissolve in water to produce high concentration of hydroxide ion, OHExample: NaOH, KOH Weak alkali: Alkali which ionises partially when dissolve in water to produce low concentration of hydroxide ion, OHExample: NH3(aq)

Basicity of Acid
Basicity of an acid is the maximum number of hydrogen ions that is produced when one molecule of an acid ionizes in water Monoprotic acid: Hydrochloric acid, HCl and nitric acid, HNO3. e.g : HCl H+ + Cl Diprotic acid : Sulphuric acid, H2SO4 e.g: H2SO4 2H+ + SO42-

Cont
Triprotic acid: Phosphoric acid, H3PO4 e.g: H3PO4 3H+ + PO43-

Physical Properties of Acid

Acids have a sour taste Solution of acids has pH less than 7 Solution of acid change blue litmus paper to red. Aqueous solution of acids are electrolytes because the presence of freely moving ions (H+)

Chemical Properties of Acid

Acid + metal salt + hydrogen gas
2HCl(aq) + Mg(s) MgCl2(aq) + H2(g)

Acid + base salt + water

H2SO4(aq) + CuO (s) CuSO4(aq) + H2O(l)

Acid + alkali salt + water

HNO3 + NaOH(aq) NaNO3 + H2O

Cont..
Acid + carbonate metal salt + water + carbon dioxide 2HCl + CaCO3 CaCl2+ H2O + CO2

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ROLE OF WATER IN ACIDS & BASES

An acid shows its acidic properties only when it is dissolved in water. This is because without water, an acid still exits as molecules and there are no hydrogen ions, H+ present. In the dry acid, the ions in the acid are fixed in the lattice positions.

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Physical Properties of Alkali

a bitter taste pH greater then 7 change red litmus paper to blue Aqueous solution of alkalis are electrolytes because the presence of freely moving ions.

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Chemical Properties of Alkali

Acid + alkali salt + water
HNO3 + NaOH NaNO3 + H2O

Alkali + metal ion insoluble metal hydroxide

2OH- + Mg2+ Mg(OH)2

Alkali + ammonium salt salt + water + ammonia

NaOH + NH4Cl NaCl + H2O + NH3

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USES
Uses of acids Uses of bases and alkalis * Make industrial products such as * Make soaps, shampoos and paints, detergents, fertilizers. detergents. * Food preservative such as * Make several of medicines, such vinegar, citric acid and ascorbic as antacid and aspirin. acid. * Use as laboratory reagents * Electrolyte in lead-acid accumulator. * Use as laboratory reagents

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CONCENTRATION Molarity (mol dm-3) = Number of Mole Volume, dm3

Example: Calculate the molarity of 0.4 moles sulphuric acid in 250cm3 solution. Solution : Number of mole = MV 1000

Molarity =number of mole x 1000 = 0.4 x 1000

250 250

= 1.6 mol dm-3

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