Acids, Bases And Neutrals Flashcards
Define acids.
Substances with a sour taste that feel rough on the skin
Define bases.
Substances with a bitter taste that feel slippery
Define properties.
Behaviour and characteristics
Define corrosive.
Describing a substance that eats through clothing, stonework and metals, and burns the skin
Where does the word acid come from?
The Latin word acere and acidus, which mean sour
List some examples of natural acids.
. Citric acid, which is found in lemon juice and citrus fruits
. Ethanoic acid, which is found in vinegar
. Lactic acid, which is found in sour milk
. Carbonic acid, which is found in fizzy cooldrinks
. Hydrochloric acid, which is found in stomach juices
Why must you not smell strong acids?
They can damage the membranes that line the inside of your nose
What should you do if you spill acid on your skin?
Immediately rinse your skin with water under a running tap. Water will dilute the acid (make it weaker)
Define alkali.
Base that can dissolve in water
What are bases?
A base is the opposite of an acid. A base will stop an acid from working
List some common bases.
Soaps, baking soda and antacids such as Eno, are common bases
List some common bases.
Soaps, baking soda and antacids such as Eno, are common bases
What can you use bases for?
If you have too much hydrochloric acid in your stomach, you can take an antacid like Eno to neutralise some of the stomach acid
Like acids, bases and alkalis can be strong or weak. Strong bases and alkalis can attack materials and burn the skin. What do we call those bases?
Caustic
What is the scientific name for vinegar?
Ethanoic acid
Give some examples of strong bases or alkalis.
Sodium hydroxide
Potassium hydroxide
Calcium hydroxide
Give some examples of weak bases or alkalis.
Magnesium oxide
Bicarbonate of soda
What are neutrals?
Substances that are neither acids nor bases. Examples include pure water, salt solution, sugar solution and cooking oil
Are neutrals dangerous and how can we make them?
They are not dangerous. We can make them by reacting an acid with a base. The acid and base cancel each other out and form a neutral substance
What are indicators?
Dyes that change colour in acids and bases
Give an example of an indicator.
Litmus is an indicator that is extracted from lichens. Red and blue litmus papee can be used to test whether a substance is an acid, a base or a neutral
What colour does litmus paper turn in acids, bases and neutrals?
Litmus paper turns red in acids and blue in bases. So, red litmus paper remains red in an acid and a neutral, but turns blue in a base. Blue litmus paper remains blue in a base and a neutral, but turns red in an acid
