Acids, Bases And Neutrals

Question 1

Define acids.

Answer 1

Substances with a sour taste that feel rough on the skin

Question 2

Define bases.

Answer 2

Substances with a bitter taste that feel slippery

Question 3

Define properties.

Answer 3

Behaviour and characteristics

Question 4

Define corrosive.

Answer 4

Describing a substance that eats through clothing, stonework and metals, and burns the skin

Question 5

Where does the word acid come from?

Answer 5

The Latin word acere and acidus, which mean sour

Question 6

List some examples of natural acids.

Answer 6

. 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

Question 7

Why must you not smell strong acids?

Answer 7

They can damage the membranes that line the inside of your nose

Question 8

What should you do if you spill acid on your skin?

Answer 8

Immediately rinse your skin with water under a running tap. Water will dilute the acid (make it weaker)

Question 9

Define alkali.

Answer 9

Base that can dissolve in water

Question 10

What are bases?

Answer 10

A base is the opposite of an acid. A base will stop an acid from working

Question 11

List some common bases.

Answer 11

Soaps, baking soda and antacids such as Eno, are common bases

Question 11

List some common bases.

Answer 11

Soaps, baking soda and antacids such as Eno, are common bases

Question 12

What can you use bases for?

Answer 12

If you have too much hydrochloric acid in your stomach, you can take an antacid like Eno to neutralise some of the stomach acid

Question 13

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?

Answer 13

Caustic

Question 14

What is the scientific name for vinegar?

Answer 14

Ethanoic acid

Question 15

Give some examples of strong bases or alkalis.

Answer 15

Sodium hydroxide
Potassium hydroxide
Calcium hydroxide

Question 16

Give some examples of weak bases or alkalis.

Answer 16

Magnesium oxide
Bicarbonate of soda

Question 17

What are neutrals?

Answer 17

Substances that are neither acids nor bases. Examples include pure water, salt solution, sugar solution and cooking oil

Question 18

Are neutrals dangerous and how can we make them?

Answer 18

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

Question 19

What are indicators?

Answer 19

Dyes that change colour in acids and bases

Question 20

Give an example of an indicator.

Answer 20

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

Question 21

What colour does litmus paper turn in acids, bases and neutrals?

Answer 21

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