CHAPTER – 2

ACIDS BASES AND SALTS

Introduction

You all know that lemon, tomato, oranges tastes sour. You also know that all of them contains citric acid. This is the
best natural example to prove that acids are sour in taste.

On the other hand you all know that increased amount of baking soda makes the cake taste bitter. This is because
baking soda is a base and hence tastes bitter.

When tested on a litmus paper acids turn the colour of the litmus to red whereas bases turns the colour of the litmus
to blue.

Fig. lemon (acidic) and baking soda (basic)

Reaction of metals with acids
Reaction of metals with acids

Metals react with acids and displaces hydrogen from the acids to produce hydrogen gas and metal salt. If a
matchstick is brought near the mouth of the tube containing the product of the reaction then we hear a pop sound. It
is this hydrogen gas that burns with a pop sound.

o For instance, Magnesium reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid to form magnesium chloride and hydrogen.

o Electrochemical series is the development of a series of metals that are arranged as per their reactivity in a
sequence from highest to lowest. Copper does not react with hydrochloric acid because it is below
hydrogen in the electrochemical series due to which it does not react liberate hydrogen but reacts with
sulphuric acid

CuO + H2SO4

Reaction of metals with bases

Reaction of metals with bases
Metals react with base to give metal salt and hydrogen gas.

Metal like zinc reacts with sodium hydroxide to produce hydrogen gas. For instance, zinc reacts with
sodium hydroxide to give sodium zincate.

Another example is when aluminium reacts with sodium hydroxide

Reaction of metal carbonates and metal hydrogen carbonates with acid

Reaction of metal carbonates and metal hydrogen carbonates with acid

Metal carbonates are formed by reaction of metal salt with CO 2 or with a carbonate of a more reactive metal.

Metal Hydrogencarbonates are formed by reaction of metal salt with HCO3 or with a hydrogencarbonates of a more
reactive metal.
Metal carbonates and Metal Hydrogencarbonates reacts with acids and produces corresponding metal salt, carbon
dioxide and water.

Let us consider the reaction of sodium carbonate with dilute HCl. The reaction proceeds in the following manner.
Secondly let us consider the reaction of sodium hydrogencarbonate with dilute HCl. The reaction proceeds as
follows.

Both the reaction produces CO2 which on passing through lime water makes lime water milky due to formation of
calcium carbonate.

On passing excess carbon dioxide following reaction occurs.

Reaction of metallic oxides with acids

Reaction of metallic oxides with acids

Metallic oxides react with acids to give salts and water. Let us consider the reaction of copper oxide with dilute
hydrochloric acid.

After the reaction takes place the colour of the solution becomes blue-green due to the formation of copper (II)
chloride and the copper oxide dissolves. This proves that metallic oxides are basic oxides.
Reaction of non-metallic oxides with base
Reaction of non-metallic oxides with base

Non-metallic oxides are formed by the reaction of non-metals with oxygen. They react with base to give salts and
water. Let us consider the reaction of Calcium hydroxide (base) with carbon dioxide (non-metallic oxide) to produce
salt and water.

Reaction of acids and bases

Reaction of acids and bases

Acids and bases react with each other to nullify the effect of each other. Let us consider a simple reaction. Take a
sample of NaOH which is a base and add drops of dilute HCl.

The reaction will be as follows:

The reaction between an acid and a base to give a salt and water is known as a neutralisation reaction. Therefore
while suffering from acidity it is prescribed to take antacid which are bitter in taste i.e. they are base. And on
entering the body they neutralise the acid and convert into salt and water.

What happens to acid and base in water

What happens to acid and base in water?

Acids in water solution dissociates H+ ions. Let us consider the reaction between water and hydrochloric acid (HCl).
HCl in presence of water produces H+ ion. This ion cannot exist alone and hence combines with water molecules and
forms H3O+. The reaction is as follows:

Base when dissolved in water produces OH- ion. Let us consider the reaction between water and sodium hydroxide
NaOH. NaOH in presence of water produces OH-ion.

Therefore the neutralisation stands out as follows:

Cautions while adding acid to water

Cautions while adding acid to water

Reaction of acid or base with water leads to the decrease in the concentration of ions (H 3O+/OH–) per unit
volume. This process is known as dilution.
o The procedure of dissolving acid or base in water is highly exothermic reaction.
o The acid needs to be added slowly to water with constant stirring.
Fig. Adding water to concentrated acid

o Adding water to concentrated acid generates tremendous heat causing the mixture to splash out and can
even cause burns.

o
o The beaker used for the reaction may also break due to the generation of excessive indigenous
heating.

Acid and bases conduct electricity

o Acid and bases conduct electricity
 o Acids and Bases exhibit their conducting property only if they are in aqueous solution in which they
could completely ionize in water. An acid in water solution dissociates H + ions. Let us consider the
reaction between water and hydrochloric acid (HCl). HCl in presence of water produces H+ ion. This
ion cannot exist alone and hence combines with water molecules and forms H 3O+. The reaction is as
follows:

o
o Base when dissolved in water produces OH- ion. Let us consider the reaction between water and sodium
hydroxide NaOH. NaOH in presence of water produces OH-ion.

o
o The H+ and OH- ions contain a free electron that carries the electric charge and thereby conducts
electricity.

pH scale

o A scale developed to measure the concentration of hydrogen ion in a solution is known as pH scale where
p in pH implies ‘potenz’ in German.
o pH scale ranges from 0 (highly acidic) – 14 (highly alkaline).
o The pH of a neutral solution is 7.
o Acidic solution is represented by a value less than 7 on the pH scale.
o Whereas basic solution is represented by a value greater than 7 on the pH scale.
o An increase in OH– ions concentration in the solution results in increase in the strength of alkali hence the
value of pH increases.
o Acids giving rise to more H+ ions are strong acids whereas those giving rise to less H+ ions are termed as
weak acids.
o Similarly bases giving rise to more OH- ions are strong bases whereas those giving rise to less OH- ions
are termed as weak bases.
o Salts of a strong acid and a strong base are neutral with pH value of 7.
o Salts of strong acid and weak base are acidic with pH value less than 7.
o Salts of a strong base and weak acid are basic in nature, with pH value more than 7.

pH scale in our day to day life

o Our body works within the pH range of 7.0 to 7.8. The pH of saliva ranges from 6.5-7.5.
o When pH of rain water is less than 5.6, it is called acid rain that lowers the pH of the river water and
makes it difficult for marine creatures to survive.
o The pH of surface water is 6-8.5 and that of ground water is nearly 6.5-8.5
o Plants require a specific pH range for their healthy growth.
o pH of tomato juice ranges from 4.1 to 4.6 whereas the pH of carrot juice is 6.4.
o Our stomach produces hydrochloric acid during digestion of food causing no harm. But during indigestion
an excess amount of acid is produced causing pain and irritation.
o Bacteria present in the mouth generates acids by decomposing the remaining sugar and food particles in
the mouth that lowers the pH to 5.5 and corrodes calcium phosphate present in our teeth enamel.

o Ant sting injects formic acid and nettle stings and injects methanoic acid causing pain and irritation. Use
of a mild base like baking soda on the stung area can provide relief to some extent due to neutralization
reaction between acid and base.
Chemicals from salt
o Salts formed by the blend of hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide solution is called sodium chloride.

Fig. Sprinkling common salt (sodium chloride) on salad

o The salt we commonly consume. It is neutral.
o This neutral common salt acts as a preliminary raw material for extracting several other materials of daily
use, like sodium hydroxide, baking soda, washing soda, bleaching powder etc.

S
Sodium hydroxide

o Passing electricity through brine solution (an aqueous solution of sodium chloride), it decomposes to give
chlorine and sodium hydroxide.

o The process is termed as the chlor-alkali process. The term chlor for chlorine and alkali for sodium
hydroxide.
o Chlorine gas is given off at the anode,
o Hydrogen gas is given off at the cathode.
o Sodium hydroxide solution is formed near the cathode.
o The reaction that takes place is as follows:

B
Bleaching powder
o Chlorine produced on passing electricity through brine solution undergoes reaction with dry slaked lime
[Ca (OH)2] to produce Bleaching powder.
o The reaction is as follows:

o It is used for several purposes:

o As a bleaching agent for bleaching cotton and linen in the textile industry,
o To bleach wood pulp in paper manufacturing industry.
o To bleach washed clothes in laundry.
o As an oxidising agent in many chemical industries.
o To disinfect drinking water and make it germfree.

Fig. Bleaching Powder

Baking soda
o Chlorine produced on passing electricity through brine solution undergoes reaction with ammonia
produces baking soda.
o The chemical name of baking soda is sodium hydrogencarbonate (NaHCO 3).
o It is a mild non-corrosive basic salt.
o The following reaction takes place.

o On heating the reaction that takes place is as follows:

o It is used for following purposes:

 o Baking soda (sodium hydrogencarbonate) undergoes reaction with mild edible acid such as tartaric acid to
manufacture baking powder. This baking powder on heating undergoes following reaction.

o This carbon-dioxide produced makes bread or cake rise thereby making them soft and spongy.
o Being alkaline it is also an active ingredient in antacids that acts by neutralising the excess acid produced
in the stomach.
o It is also used in soda-acid fire extinguishers.

Fig. Baking Soda

Washing soda

o This is another chemical derivative of sodium chloride. The heating of baking soda produces sodium
carbonate.

o This sodium carbonate undergoes recrystallization to give off washing soda.

o It is also a basic salt.

o It is used for following purposes:
o It is used in glass, soap and paper manufacturing industries.
o It is also used in the manufacture of sodium compounds like borax.
o It is also used as a cleaning agent for domestic purposes.
o It also plays a pivotal role in removing permanent hardness of water.
Fig. Washing Soda

Water of crystallization
The fixed number of water molecules present in one formula unit of a salt is called water of crystallisation.

o For instance, there are five molecules of water in one formula unit of copper sulphate and hence the
chemical formula for hydrated copper sulphate is CuSO4. 5H2

Fig. Copper sulphate crystal

o Gypsum has two molecules of water as water of crystallisation and hence the chemical formula for
hydrated gypsum stands out to be CaSO4.2H2
o This gypsum on getting heated loses water molecules and becomes calcium sulphate hemihydrate
(CaSO4.1/2 H2O). This is known as plaster of Paris.
o Uses of Plaster of Paris are as follows:
o Plaster for supporting fractured bones in their appropriate position.

o When mixed with water, it again changes to gypsum giving a hard solid mass. The reaction is as follows:
 o It is also used for making toys, materials for decoration and for making smooth surfaces

Fig. Statue made of plaster of Paris

QUESTION FOR PRACTICE

Match the acids given in Column (A) with their correct source given

Answer:

Column A Column B
Lactic acid Curd
Acetic acid Vinegar
Citric acid Lemon
Oxalic acid Tomato

Match the important chemicals given in Column (A) with the chemical formulae given in
Column (B)

Answer:

Column A Column B
Plaster of Paris CaSO4.0.5H2O
Gypsum CaSO4.2H2O
Bleaching powder CaOCl2
Slaked lime Ca(OH)2

What will be the action of the following substances on litmus paper? (Dry HCl gas, Moistened
NH3 gas, Lemon juice, Carbonated soft drink, Curd, Soap solution.)

Answer:

 Dry HCl – No action

 Moistened NH3 gas – Turns blue litmus to red
 Lemon Juice – Turns blue litmus to red
 Carbonated soft drink – Turns blue litmus to red.
 Curd – Turns blue litmus to red
 Soap solution – Turns red litmus to blue.

Explanation:

a. Dry HCl does not liberate hydrogen ion, hence no action takes place with litmus
paper.
b. NH3 gas forms ammonium hydroxide in with water which turns red litmus paper
blue.
c. Lemon juice is citric acid, so it turns blue litmus paper red.
d. Carbonate soft drink contains carbon dioxide dissolved in water. Carbon dioxide
forms carbonic acid; with water; which turns blue litmus paper red.
e. Curd contains lactic acid and hence turns blue litmus paper to red.
f. Soap solution is basic in nature hence it turns red litmus paper to blue.

1. Name the acid present in ant sting and give its chemical formula. Also give the
common method to get relief from the discomfort caused by the ant sting.
Answer: Name of acid present in ant sting: Methanoic acid

Chemical Formula of methanoic acid: HCOOH

Method to get relief from the discomfort caused by the ant sting: Rubbing
baking soda over the location of ant sting.

Explanation: Since baking soda is a base thus by rubbing over the ant sting it
neutralizes the methanoic acid present in ant sting and gives relief from pain.

2. What happens when nitric acid is added to egg shell?

Answer: Egg shell is made of calcium carbonate. We know that when calcium
carbonate reacts with nitric acid, it gives carbon dioxide, calcium nitrate and
water. Same reaction happens when nitric acid is poured over egg shell.
 CaCO3 + 2HNO3 ⇨ Ca(NO3 )2 + CO2 + H2O

1.3. A student prepared solutions of (i) an acid and (ii) a base in two separate
beakers. She forgot to label the solutions and litmus paper is not available in the
laboratory. Since both the solutions are colourless, how will she distinguish
between the two?
Answer: While answering this question, we need to make certain assumptions.
Let us assume that laboratory has all the necessary items but litmus paper. We
can use phenolphthalein to check which of the beakers contains acid and which
one contains a base. Apart from that, we can also use other natural indicators;
like China rose or turmeric.

Ques : Salt A commonly used in bakery products on heating gets converted into another
salt B which itself is used for removal of hardness of water and a gas C is evolved. The
gas C when passed through lime water, turns it milky. Identify A, B and C.

Answer: Baking power which is a salt is used as bakery products which give sodium
carbonate and carbon dioxide gas on heating. Sodium carbonate is used to remove the
hardness of water. Carbon dioxide turns lime water milky.

2NaHCO3 + Heat ⇨ Na2CO3 + CO2 + H2O

Therefore;

 Salt A, which is sodium bicarbonate and used as baking powder.

 Salt B is sodium carbonate, which is used to remove the hardness of water.
 The C is carbon dioxide gas which turns lime water milky.

1. How would you distinguish between baking powder and washing soda by
heating?
Answer: The production of carbon dioxide is main characteristic of baking soda
that makes it suitable for baking.

Baking soda gives carbon dioxide and water vapour on heating at even low
temperature such as 100°C. The gas so formed turns lime water milky, which
confirms the presence of carbon dioxide gas.

2NaHCO3 + Heat ⇨ Na2CO3 + CO2 + H2O

 When Washing soda (Na2CO3) is heated it does not produce carbon dioxide
even at high temperature, such as 200°C or 300°C. However sodium
carbonate gives sodium oxide and carbon dioxide when heated at about
1000°C.

Na2CO3.10H2O + Heat ⇨ Na2CO3 + 10H2O

The gas produced by heating of the samples can be checked by passing

through lime water. If the lime water turns milky then the evolved gas is
carbon dioxide and the heated substance is baking powder.

2. In one of the industrial processes used for manufacture of sodium hydroxide, a

gas X is formed as byproduct. The gas X reacts with lime water to give a
compound Y which is used as a bleaching agent in chemical industry. Identify X
and Y giving the chemical equation of the reactions involved.
Answer: Sodium chloride is used for manufacture of sodium hydroxide which is
called Chlor-Alkali Process. In this process chlorine and hydrogen gas are
formed as byproducts along with sodium hydroxide. Chlorine gas gives bleaching
power when reacts with lime water and used as bleaching agent in chemical
industries.

Ca(OH)2 + Cl2 ⇨ CaOCl2 + H2O

Therefore;

o The gas ‘X’ is chlorine.

o Compound ‘Y’ is calcium oxychloride which is commonly known as
bleaching powder and used as bleaching agent in chemical
industries.
3.
Answer:

Fill in the missing data in the following table

Answer:

Salt obtained from

Name of salt Formula
Base Acid
Ammonium chloride NH4Cl NH4OH HCl
Copper sulphate CuSO4 Cu(OH)2 H2SO4
Sodium chloride NaCl NaOH HCl
Magnesium nitrate Mg(NO3 )2 Mg(OH)2 HNO3
Potassium sulphate K2SO4 KOH H2SO4
Calcium nitrate Ca(NO3 )2 Ca(OH)2 HNO3

1. What are strong and weak acids? In the following list of acids, separate strong
acids from weak acids. (Hydrochloric acid, citric acid, acetic acid, nitric acid,
formic acid, sulphuric acid.)
Answer: Strong Acid – Strong acids ionize completely in their aqueous solution
and produce maximum number of hydrogen ions. Mineral acids are generally
strong acids. Examples: Hydrochloric acid, Nitric Acid, Sulphuric Acid

Weak Acid – Weak acids do not ionize completely in their aqueous solution.
Organic acids are generally weak acids. Examples: Citric Acid, Acetic Acid,
Formic Acid

2. When zinc metal is treated with a dilute solution of a strong acid, a gas is
evolved, which is utilised in the hydrogenation of oil. Name the gas evolved.
Write the chemical equation of the reaction involved and also write a test to
detect the gas formed.
Answer: Zinc metal gives hydrogen gas when it is treated with dilute sulphuric
acid. Hydrogen gas is utilized in hydrogenation of oil. Therefore, the gas evolved
is hydrogen.

Zn + H2SO4 ⇨ ZnSO4 + H2

Test for hydrogen gas: When a burning candle is brought near the hydrogen
gas, it burns with pop sound which confirms the presence of hydrogen gas

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION

1. Match the acids given in Column (A) with their correct source given in Column (B)
Column (A) Column (B)
(a) Lactic acid (i) Tomato
(b) Acetic acid (ii) Lemon
(c) Citric acid (iii) Vinegar
(d) Oxalic acid (iv) Curd

2. Match the important chemicals given in Column (A) with the chemical formulae given
in Column (B)
Column (A) Column (B)
(a) Plaster of Paris (i) Ca(OH)2
(b) Gypsum (ii) CaSO4.1/2 H2O
(c) Bleaching Powder (iii) CaSO4 .2H2O
(d) Slaked Lime (iv) CaOC12

3. What will be the action of the following substances on litmus paper?

Dry HCl gas, Moistened NH3 gas, Lemon juice, Carbonated soft drink, Curd, Soap solution.

4. Name the acid present in ant sting and give its chemical formula. Also give the
common method to get relief from the discomfort caused by the ant sting.

5. What happens when nitric acid is added to egg shell?

6. A student prepared solutions of (i) an acid and (ii) a base in two separate beakers. She
forgot to label the solutions and litmus paper is not available in the laboratory. Since
both the solutions are colourless, how will she distinguish between the two?

7. How would you distinguish between baking powder and washing soda by heating?
8. Salt A commonly used in bakery products on heating gets converted into another salt
B which itself is used for removal of hardness of water and a gas C is evolved. The gas C
when passed through lime water, turns it milky. Identify A, B and C?
9What is an indicator? Name of commonly used indicators?
10Use of blue litmus paper in acid and bases.
11.How can you say that orange juice is acidic in nature?
12.Explain the color changing in Methyl orange and phenolphthalein
13.What is universal indicator?
14.Why do we see a yellow stain on a white cloth?
15.What are olfactory indicators and their examples?
16.When will we not be able to detect the characteristics smell of onion and vanilla?
17.Why lemon has a sour taste?
18.Differentiate between organic and mineral acid?
19.Example of organic and mineral acids
20.In how many parts can acids be divided into?
21.What type of acid is vinegar and what are its uses?
22.Difference between concentrated and dilute acid
23.Why should we not add water to concentrated acid to form dilute acid?
24.What are the properties of acid?
25.Diagram to show the reaction of dilute sulphuric acid with zinc?
26.Why should you not keep sour stuff in metal utensils?
27.What is formed when:

Acids react with metal carbonate

Calcium hydroxide reacts with carbon dioxide

MCQ
What happens when a solution of an acid is mixed with a solution of a base in a test
tube?

i. The temperature of the solution increases.

ii. The temperature of the solution decreases.
iii. The temperature of the solution remains the same.
iv. Salt formation takes place

a. (i) only
b. (i) and (iii)
c. (ii) and (iii)
d. (i) and (iv)
Answer: (d) (i) and (iv)

2 An aqueous solution turns red litmus solution blue. Excess addition of which of the
following solution would reverse the change?

a. Baking powder
b. Lime
c. Ammonium hydroxide solution
d. Hydrochloric acid
Answer: (d) Hydrochloric acid
3 During the preparation of hydrogen chloride gas on a humid day,
the gas is usually passed through the guard tube containing
calcium chloride. The role of calcium chloride taken in the guard
tube is to
e. absorb the evolved gas
f. moisten the gas
g. absorb moisture from the gas
h. absorb Cl− ions from the evolved gas
Answer: (c) absorb moisture from the gas

4 Which of the following salts does not contain water of crystallisation?

i. Blue vitriol
j. Baking soda
k. Washing soda
l. Gypsum
Answer: (b) Baking soda

5 Sodium carbonate is a basic salt because it is a salt of

A strong acid and strong base

B weak acid and weak base

C strong acid and weak base

D weak acid and strong base

Answer: (d) Weak acid and strong base

6 Calcium phosphate is present in tooth enamel. Its nature is

A basic

B acidic

C neutral

D amphoteric
Answer: (c) neutral

7 A sample of soil is mixed with water and allowed to settle. The clear
supernatant solution turns the pH paper yellowish-orange. Which of the
following would change the colour of this pH paper to greenish-blue?

A Lemon juice

B Vinegar

C Common salt

D An antacid
Answer: (d) An antacid
8 Which of the following gives the correct increasing order of acidic
strength?

A Water < Acetic acid < Hydrochloric acid

B Water < Hydrochloric acid < Acetic acid

C Acetic acid < Water < Hydrochloric acid

D Hydrochloric acid < Water < Acetic acid

Answer: (a) Water < Acetic acid < Hydrochloric acid

9 If a few drops of a concentrated acid accidentally spills over the hand of a

student, what should be done?

A Wash the hand with saline solution

B Wash the hand immediately with plenty of water and apply a

paste of sodium hydrogencarbonate

C After washing with plenty of water apply solution of sodium

hydroxide on the hand

D Neutralise the acid with a strong alkali

Answer: (b) Wash the hand immediately with plenty of water and
apply a paste of sodium hydrogen carbonate.

10 Sodium hydrogencarbonate when added to acetic acid evolves a gas.

Which of the following statements are true about the gas evolved?

A It turns lime water milky

B It extinguishes a burning splinter

C It dissolves in a solution of sodium hydroxide

D It has a pungent odour

a. (i) and (ii)

b. (i), (ii) and (iii)
c. (ii), (iii) and (iv)
d. (i) and (iv)
Answer: (a) (i) and (ii)