Chapter 1 - Acids & Bases Flashcards
What is an acid?
A compound which produces hydrogen (H+) ions as the only positive ions when dissolved in water.
Physical properties of acids (4)
- Acids have a sour taste
- Acids turn moist blue litmus paper red
- Strong acids are corrosive
- Acids conduct electricity as they have hydrogen ions in solutions
Acid reaction 1
acid + reactive metal → salt + hydrogen gas
Unreactive metals
Copper (Cu), Silver (Ag), Gold (Au)
Acid reaction 2
acid + base → salt + water
Neutralisation
acid-base reaction
the reaction between hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions to produce water
Acid reaction 3
acid + carbonate → salt + carbon dioxide + water
Uses of sulfuric acid (3)
- Manufacture of fertilisers
- Manufacture of detergents
- As a battery acid (in car batteries)
What is a base?
A metal oxide or hydroxide
reacts with an acid to give a salt and water through neutralisation
What is an alkali?
(a soluble base)
A compound which produces hydroxide ions (OH-) as the only negative ions when dissolved in water
Physical properties of alkalis (4)
- Alkalis have a bitter taste
- Alkalis are soapy to the touch
- Alkalis turn moist red litmus paper blue
- Concentrated alkalis are corrosive
Alkali reaction 1
base (alkali) + acid → salt + water
Alkali reaction 2
alkali + ammonium salt → salt + ammonia + water
Use of calcium hydroxide and calcium oxide
For soils which are too acidic, they can be neutralised by adding powdered calcium hydroxide (slaked lime) or calcium oxide (quicklime)
pH indicator: litmus
red → purple (6.5) → blue
pH indicator: phenolphthalein
colourless → light pink (9.3) → pink
pH indicator: methyl orange
red → orange (3.7) → yellow
pH indicator: universal indicator
red → orange → yellow → green → blue → purple → indigo
Oxide
A compound of oxygen with another element
Acidic oxides
- Oxides of non-metals
- Reacts with water to form an acid
- Reacts with bases & alkalis to form salt and water