Acids Flashcards
what is the range on the pH scale?
0 to about 14
what does the pH scale tell you about a solution?
how acidic or alkaline it is
what number on the pH scale is neutral?
7
what number is most acidic on the pH scale?
0
what number is most alkaline on the pH scale?
14
what is a universal indicator made from and how does this work?
made from a mixture of dyes that change colour in a gradual way over a range pH
what is the most common form of universal indicator? how does it work? how accurate is it?
known as a wide range indicator
changes through a variety of colours from pH 1 to pH 14
it is not very accurate
when testing with a universal indicator, what do you do with the colour of the paper of soultion?
check it against a chart to find the correct pH
what is a more accurate way than a universal indicator to measure the pH?
a pH meter
what is a common indicator?
litmus
what can be used as an indicator?
any substance that has more than one colour form depending on the pH
what colour is litmus in acidic solution?
red
what colour is litmus in alkaline solution?
blue
what colour is litmus in neutral solution?
purple
what colour is methyl orange in alkaline solutions?
yellow
what colour is methyl orange in acidic solutions?
red
what colour is phenolphthalien in alkaline solutions?
bright pink
what colour is phenolphthalien in acidic solutions?
colourless
what is an acid-base indicator?
chemicals that change to a different colour when the pH of a solution changes
what colour is universal indicator in acidic solution?
strong red
what colour is universal indicator in alkaline solution?
strong blue
why is universal indicator the best indicator?
a range of colour of pH
you can see how strongly acidic or alkaline a solution is
what does the pH show us?
the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution compared to distilled water
strong alkalines have … H+ ions
strong alkalines have very few H+ ions
strong acids have … H+ ions
strong acids have many H+ ions
what type of reaction is neutralisation?
exothermic
what is an acid?
a substance that, when dissolved in water, releases hydrogen H+ ions
what does dissociate mean?
to break apart
if an acid fully dissociates it is a … acid
if an acid fully dissociates it is a strong acid
if an acid partly dissociates it is a … acid
if an acid partly dissociates it is a weak acid
what is an alkali?
a base that can dissole in water
when dissolved in water, releases an OH- ion
what can alkalis do to acids?
neutralise them
what are bases?
substances that combine with hydrogen ions
react with acids to form a salt and water (and sometimes carbon dioxide as well)
usually metal oxides
what can bases do to acids?
neutralise them
do bases release a hydroxide ion when dissolved in water? why?
no
they do not dissolve in water
what do alkalis release when they fully dissociate?
hydroxide ions
what do alkalis release when they partly dissociate?
(less) hydroxide ions
are all alkalis bases or are all bases alkalis?
all alkalis are bases
not all bases are alkalis
what is formed when an acid reacts with an alkali? what is the balanced and ionic equation for this?
water
hydrogen + hydroxide —> water
H+ (aq) + OH- (aq) —> H2O (l)
metals below hydrogen in the reactivity series … with dilute acids
metals below hydrogen in the reactivity series don’t react with dilute acids
metals above hydrogen in the reactivity series … with dilute acids
metals above hydrogen series react with dilute acids
the higher the metal in the reactivity series, the more … the reaction with an acid
the higher the metal in the reactivity series, the more vigorous the reaction with an acid
why would you never mix metals such as sodium or potassium with acids?
the reaction would be too vigorous
what is the summary equation for metals reacticing with acids?
acid (aq) + metal (s) —> salt (aq) + hyrogen (g)
what happens during a reaction between a metal and an acid?
the metal displaces the hydrogen ion from the acids which is then liberated as hydrogen gas molecules
the metal combnes with the non-metal of the acid to form a salt
the metal ionises
what salts are formed from the parent acid sulphuric acid?
sulphates
what salts are formed from the parent acid hydrochloric acid?
chlorides
what salts are formed from the parent acid nitric acid?
nitrates
what happens when you react magnesium with dilute sulphuric acid?
there is rapid fizzing and a colourless gas is evolved
this gas squekily pops when tested with a lighted splint (the test for hydrogen)
the reaction mixture gets very warm as heat is produced
the magnesium gradually disappears to leave a colourless solution of magnesium sulphate
what is the balanced equation for the reaction of magnesium with dilute sulphuric acid?
Mg(s) + H2SO4 (aq) —> MgSO4 (aq) + H2 (g)
what is the kind of reaction is the reaction of magnesium with dilute sulphuric acid? explain this breifly
a displacement reaction
the more reactive magnesium has displaced the less reactive hydrogen
what happens when you react magnesium with dilute hydrochloric acid?
there is rapid fizzing and a colourless gas is evolved
this gas squekily pops when tested with a lighted splint (the test for hydrogen)
the reaction mixture gets very warm as heat is produced
the magnesium gradually disappears to leave a coloourless solution of magnesium chloride
what is the equation for the reaction of magnesium with dilute hydrochloric acid?
Mg(s) + 2HCl(aq) —> MgCl2 (aq) + H2 (g)
all acids in solution contain … ions
this means that magensium will react with any simple dilute acid in … way
all acids in solution contain hyrogen ions
this means that magensium will react with any simple dilute acid in the same way
the reaction of zinc with simple dilute acids is … than magnesium as zinc is … on the reactivity series
the reaction of zinc with simple dilute acids is slower than magnesium as zinc is lower on the reactivity series
how can the reaction of zinc with simple dilute acids be sped up?
if the reaction is heated or if the zinc is impure
a little copper(II) sulphate solution is often added to these reactions to make the zinc impure
how is hydrogen often made in the lab?
usually from zinc and dilute sulphuric acid, with a very small amount of copper(II) sulphate solution added to speed up the reaction (this is not a catalyst as it is used up in the reaction)
how do you test for hydrogen?
hyrdogen reacts with oxygen in the presence of a flame or a spark to give water
a lighted splint placed at the mouth of a test tube of hydrogen will give a squeaky pop as the hydrogen reacts with oxygen in the air