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 Acids, Bases and Salts – Summary Notes

Acids
 According to the ionic theory, an acid is a compound which when dissolved in water yields
hydronium ions  H3O  as the only positively charged ions.
𝐻𝐶𝑙 + 𝐻2 𝑂 ⇌ 𝐻3 𝑂+ + 𝐶𝑙 −
Classification of Acids
 On the basis of strength (the concentration of hydronium ions present in an aqueous
solution of an acid), acids are divided into two groups – weak acids and strong acids.
 A weak acid dissociates only partially in aqueous solution thereby producing a low
concentration of hydrogen  H   or hydronium ions  H3O  . Acetic acid, citric acid
and carbonic acid are examples of weak acids.
 A strong acid dissociates completely in aqueous solution to produce high
concentration of hydrogen H 

or hydronium H O 
3

ions. Sulphuric acid
 H2 SO4  , hydrochloric acid (HCl) and nitric acid  HNO3  are examples of strong
acids.
 On the basis of concentration (the amount of acid dissolved in water), acids are of two
kinds – dilute acids and concentrated acids.
 An acid having relatively a high percentage of acid in its aqueous solution is called a
concentrated acid.
 An acid having relatively a low percentage of acid in its aqueous solution is called a
dilute acid.
 On the basis of their source, acids can be divided into two categories – organic acids and
mineral acids.
 Organic acids are derived from plants. They include oxalic acids  COOH 2 , acetic
acid  CH3COOH  , etc.
 Mineral acids, also called inorganic acids. They are derived from minerals. They
include nitric acid  HNO3  , sulphuric acid  H2 SO4  and hydrochloric acid (HCl).
 On the basis of basicity (the number of hydrogen ions, H  , that can be produced per
molecule of the acid in an aqueous solution), acids are classified as monobasic acids,
dibasic acids and tribasic acids.
 Acid which on completing dissociation, produce one hydrogen ion per molecule of
the acid are called monobasic acids. Hydrochloric acid (HCl) is a monobasic acid.
 
𝐻𝐶𝑙 ⇌ H  Cl
Nitric acid  HNO3  and acetic acid  CH3COOH  are other examples of monobasic
acids.
 Acids which on complete dissociation produce two hydrogen ions per molecule of the
acid are called dibasic acids. Sulphuric acid  H2 SO4  is a dibasic acid.
H 2 SO4 ⇌ 2H   SO42

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 Study Materials
NCERT Solutions for Class 6 to 12 (Math & Science)
Revision Notes for Class 6 to 12 (Math & Science)
RD Sharma Solutions for Class 6 to 12 Mathematics
RS Aggarwal Solutions for Class 6, 7 & 10 Mathematics
Important Questions for Class 6 to 12 (Math & Science)
CBSE Sample Papers for Class 9, 10 & 12 (Math &
Science)
Important Formula for Class 6 to 12 Math
CBSE Syllabus for Class 6 to 12
Lakhmir Singh Solutions for Class 9 & 10
Previous Year Question Paper
CBSE Class 12 Previous Year Question Paper
CBSE Class 10 Previous Year Question Paper
JEE Main & Advanced Question Paper
NEET Previous Year Question Paper

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  Acids which on complete dissociation produce three hydrogen ions per molecule of
the acid are called tribasic acids. Phosphoric acid  H3 PO4  is a tribasic acid.
H 3 PO4 ⇌ 3H   PO43
 On the basis of molecular composition, acids are of two kinds – hydracids and oxyacid’s.
 An acid which contains hydrogen and a non-metal other than oxygen is called a
hydracid. Hydrochloric acid (HCl), hydrocyanic acid (HCN) and hydrogen sulphide
 H2 S  are examples of hydracids.
 An acid which contains oxygen along with hydrogen and one more element is called
an oxyacid. Nitric acid  HNO3  , sulphuric acid  H2 SO4  and carbonic acid  H2CO3 
are examples of oxyacid’s.

Properties of Acids
 Acids have a sharp sour taste.
 They turn blue litmus solution red methyl orange pink and phenolphthalein colourless.
 Acidic solutions are generally good conductors of electricity.
 Most mineral acids, such as sulphuric acid  H2 SO4  and nitric acid  HNO3  , have
corrosive action on skin.

Use of Acids
 Citric acid is used to preserve food items.
 Tartaric acid is used in baking powder.
 Boric acid is used as an eyewash.
 Carbonic acid is used as soda water and in aerated drinks.
 Acetic acid is used as vinegar.
 Oxalic acid is used to remove ink stains.
 Hydrochloric acid is used as a laboratory reagent.

Bases
 A base is a compound which reacts with an acid to form salt and water only.
 A base which is soluble in water is called an alkali. When dissolved in water, it forms
hydroxyl ions  OH   as the only negatively charged ions.
 An alkali is a base soluble in water. But all bases are not necessarily alkalis.
Classification of Bases
 On the basis of their strength (concentration of the hydroxyl ions in an aqueous solution
of an alkali), bases are divided into two groups – strong alkalis and weak alkalis.
 A base which dissociates almost completely in an aqueous solution producing a high
concentration of hydroxyl ions  OH   is called a strong alkali. Sodium hydroxide
(NaOH) and potassium hydroxide (KOH) are examples of strong alkalis.

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  A base which dissociates partially in an aqueous solution to give a low percentage of
hydroxyl ions  OH   is called a weak alkali. Ammonium hydroxide  NH 4OH  is a
weak alkali.
 On the basis of concentration (the amount of a base dissolved in water), alkalis are of two
kinds – concentrated alkalis and dilute alkalis.
 Alkalis having relatively a high percentage of alkali in their aqueous solutions are
called concentrated alkalis.
 Alkalis having relatively a low percentage of alkali in their aqueous solutions are
called dilute alkalis.
 On the basis of their acidity (the number of hydroxyl ions that can be produced per
molecule of a base in aqueous solution), alkalis are classified as monoacidic, diacidic and
triacidic.
 An alkali that on complete dissociation in its aqueous solution produces only one
hydroxyl ion per molecule is called a monoacidic alkali. Sodium hydroxide (NaOH)
is a monoacidic alkali.
 Alkalis that on complete dissociation in their aqueous solutions produce two hydroxyl
ions per molecule are called diaacidic alkalis. Magnesium hydroxide  Mg  OH 2 
and calcium hydroxide Ca  OH 2  are examples of diacidic alkalis.
 Alkalis that on complete dissociation in their aqueous solutions produce three
hydroxyl ions per molecule are called triacidic alkalis. Ferric hydroxide  Fe  OH 3 
is a triacidic alkali.
Properties of Bases
 Bases have a soapy touch and a bitter taste.
 They turn red litmus blue, methyl orange yellow and colourless phenolphthalein pink.
 Caustic alkalis (NaOH and KOH) have a corrosive action on skin.
Uses of Bases
 Sodium hydroxide is used in the manufacture of laundry soaps in textile industry.
 Calcium hydroxide is used in the manufacture of bleaching powder and in softening
of hard water.
 Potassium hydroxide is used in alkaline batteries and toilet extinguishers.
 Aluminium hydroxide is used to remove grease stains from clothes.
 Magnesium hydroxide is used as an antacid to neutralize acidity caused in the stomach
by hydrochloric acid.
 The process due to which H  ions of an acid react completely or combine with OH  ions
of a base to give salt and water only is called neutralization.
 Indicators: An indicator is an organic compound which shows an abrupt change in colour
with acidic or basic solutions.
Indicator Final colour
Acid Alkali
Litmus Red Blue

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 Methyl orange Pink Yellow
Phenolphthalein Colourless Deep pink

 The pH value represents the strength of acids and bases in terms of hydrogen ion
concentration.
pH value of water is 7.
pH value of acids is less than 7.
pH value of bases is more than 7.

Salts
 A salt is a compound that dissociates in water yielding positive ion other than hydrogen
ion  H   and negative ion other than hydroxyl ion  OH   .
NaCl  aq   Na  aq   Cl   aq 
 Classification of Salts
 Normal salts: Sodium chloride (NaCl), Sodium sulphate  Na2 SO4  , etc.
 Acid salts: Sodium hydrogen carbonate  NaHCO3  , Calcium hydrogen carbonate

Ca  HCO   , etc.

3 2

 Basic salts: Basic iron sulphate  Fe  OH  SO4  , Basic copper chloride

Cu  OH  Cl  , Basic lead nitrate  Pb  OH  NO3  , etc.

 Double salts: Potash alum  K2 SO4 . Al2  SO4 3 .24H 2O  , Ferric alum
 NH 4 2 SO4 .Fe2  SO4 3 .24H 2O  , etc.

 Mixed salts: Calcium chloro hypochlorite Ca  OCl  Cl  , Sodium potassium

sulphate  NaKSO4  , etc.
 Complex slats: Potassium mercuric iodide  K2  HgI 4  , Sodium argento cyanide

Na  Ag CN   , etc.

2

Properties of Salts
 Salts are non-volatile electrovalent compounds.
 They have high melting points and conduct electricity in their aqueous form.
 They undergo loose chemical combination with water of crystallization from its aqueous
solution and exhibit deliquescence and efflorescence.
 Deliquescence: It is the process of absorbing moisture from the air by a solid substance to
form a saturated solution. Such substances are called deliquescent substances. Calcium
chloride  CaCl2  is an example of a deliquescent substance.

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 Efflorescence: It is the process of losing water of crystallization by a hydrated substance,
when exposed to the atmosphere. Such substances are called efflorescent substances.
Sodium carbonate  Na2CO3.10H2O  is an efflorescent substance.
 Water of crystallization: The number of water molecules present in a salt crystal is called
water of crystallization.
General Methods of Preparation of Salts
 Action of an acid on a metal
Zn  s   H2 SO4  aq   ZnSO4  aq   H2  g 
 Decomposition of bicarbonates by acids
NaHCO3  s   HCl  aq   NaCl  s   H2O l   CO2  g 
Decomposition of carbonates by acids
PbCO3  s   2HNO3  aq   Pb  NO3 2  aq   H2O l   CO2  g 
Decomposition of chlorides by concentrated sulphuric acid
2NaCl  s   H2 SO4 l   NaHSO4  aq   HCl  g 
 Neutralization an acid with a soluble base or insoluble base
NaOH  aq   HCl  aq   NaCl  aq   H 2O l 
ZnO  s   2HCl  aq   ZnCl2  aq   H2O l 
 By precipitation reaction (double decomposition), insoluble salts are prepared
CaCl2  aq   H2 SO4  aq   CaSO4  2HCl l 
Laboratory Preparation of Salts
 Treating metals with dilute acids; for example, zinc sulphate  ZnSO4  , iron sulphate
 FeSO4  .
 Treating an insoluble oxide or hydroxide or carbonate with acid; for example, copper
sulphate  CuSO4  .
 Treating alkali solution with dilute acids; for example, sodium hydroxide (NaOH).
 By double decomposition (precipitation); for example, CaCO3 and PbCl2 .
 By direct combination; for example, iron (III) chloride  FeCl3  .

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