ACIDS, BASES AND SALTS

OBJECTIVES

Construct word equations and simple

balanced chemical equations

Describe neutrality and relative

acidity and alkalinity in terms of pH
measured using Universal Indicator
paper.

Describe the characteristic properties

of acids as reactions with metals,
bases, carbonates and effect on
litmus and methyl orange

Describe the characteristic properties

of acids as reactions with metals,
bases, carbonates and effect on
litmus and methyl orange

WORD AND SYMBOL EQUATIONS

In any chemical reaction, new things are formed

but no mass gain or mass loss.
This is called the law of conservation of masses
"mass cannot be created or destroyed, but
changed into different forms
Thus, in a chemical reaction,the total mass of
reactants must equal the total mass of
products.
Chemical changes can be represented with either:
1. word equations or,
2. symbol equations

WORD EQUATION
The chemicals that react together are
the reactants or reagents.
The new substances formed are the
products.
A word equation gives the names of
the substances involved in a reaction.
We can write the word equation for
the reaction between sodium and
chlorine to form sodium chloride
Sodium + chlorine

sodium chloride

Sodium and chlorine are the reactants, and

sodium chloride is the product.

WORD AND SYMBOL EQUATIONS

Quiz

WORD EQUATION
SYMBOL EQUATION

The chemicals that react

Symbol
equation
gives
together
are the
reactants
or the symbols and
formulae of the reactants and the
reagents.
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this
object
products.
In any chemical reaction, new things are formed
The new substances formed are
but no mass gain or mass loss.
Unlike word equations, symbol equations
the products.
must be balanced.
This is called the law of conservation of masses
A word
equation givessodium
the chloride
Sodium
+ chlorine
In
the
reaction
between
sodium and
names of the substances
"mass cannot be created or destroyed, but
Sodium and
chlorine
are replace
the
chlorine,
if we
the names of the
involved
in
a
reaction.
changed into different forms
reactants,
and
sodium
chloride
is
the
reactants and the product with the
product.
We cancorrect
write the
word equation
chemical
formulae, we will get an
Thus, in a chemical reaction,the total mass of
for the reaction
between
sodium
unbalanced
equation,
as shown below:
reactants must equal the total mass of

and chlorine to form

sodium
products.
chloride

Chemical changes can be represented with either:

1. word equations or,
2. symbol equations

Can you see why the equation above is not

balanced?

BALANCING CHEMICAL EQUATION

Theres not special way to balance chemical
equations. It is just like check and fix.

Another example is burning of propane to

form carbon dioxide and water.

Again, lets look at the reaction between sodium

and chlorine

C3H8 + O2

Na +

Cl2

NaCl

CO2

H2O

TRY YOUR BEST

Quiz

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The pH scale
ThepHscaleisameasureoftherelativeacidityoralkalinityofasolution
So,byreferencingtothepHscalewecanknowhowacidoralkalinea
solutionis,orwhetherthesolutionisneutral.
Onthisscale:
AnacidicsolutionhasapHnumberlessthan7.
AnalkalinesolutionhasapHnumbergreaterthan7.
AneutralsolutionhasapHnumberofexactly7.

Universal indicator paper

Anindicatorisadyeormixtureofcolouredsubstancesthatwhenadded
tothesolutiongivesadifferentcolourdependingonthepHofthe
solution.

Universalindicatorsolution

Universalindicatorsolutionorpaper,ispreparedfrommixingseveral
indicatorstogiveavarietyofcolourstomatchthepHvaluesfromvery
acidtoveryalkaline.
Universalindicatordoesnotonlytellwhetherasolutionisanacidor
alkaline,italsoshowshowstronglyacidorstronglyalkalinethesolution
isbygivingyouthepHtoaboutthenearestindicator.
Universalindicatorpaper

Othercommonindicators

Quiz
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