Introduction to Acids and Bases

Contributed by:

Jonathan James Mon, Jan 17, 2022 04:47 PM UTC

The highlights are:
1. What is an acid?
2. Properties of Acids
3. Uses of Acids
4. What is a base?
5. Properties of Bases
6. Uses of Bases
7. pH and pH scale '
8. Acid base reactions

1. Acids & Bases
They are everywhere..
In your food
In your house
EVEN IN YOU!!!!!

2. What is an acid?
 An acid is a solution that has an
excess of H+ ions. It comes from the
Latin word acidus that means "sharp"
or "sour".
 The more H + ions, the more acidic
the solution.

3. Properties of an Acid
 Tastes Sour
 Conduct Electricity
 Corrosive, which means
they break down certain
substances. Many acids can
corrode fabric, skin,and
paper
 Some acids react strongly
with metals
 Turns blue litmus paper red
Picture from BBC Revision Bites

4. Uses of Acids
 Acetic Acid = Vinegar
 Citric Acid = lemons, limes,
& oranges. It is in many
sour candies such as
lemonhead & sour patch.
 Ascorbic acid = Vitamin C
which your body needs to
function.
 Sulfuric acid is used in the
production of fertilizers,
steel, paints, and plastics.
 Car batteries

5. What is a base?
 A base is a solution that
has an excess of OH-
ions.
 Another word for base
is alkali.
 Bases are
substances that can
accept hydrogen ions

6. Properties of a Base
 Feel Slippery
 Taste Bitter
 Corrosive
 Can conduct electricity.
(Think alkaline
batteries.)
 Do not react with metals.
 Turns red litmus paper
blue.

7. Uses of Bases
 Bases give soaps, ammonia,
and many other cleaning
products some of their useful
properties.
 The OH- ions interact
strongly with certain
substances, such as dirt and
grease.
 Chalk and oven cleaner are
examples of familiar products
that contain bases.
 Your blood is a basic solution.

8. pH Scale
 pH is a measure of how acidic or
basic a solution is.
• The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14.
 Acidic solutions have pH values
below 7
 A solution with a pH of 0 is very
acidic.
 A solution with a pH of 7 is neutral.
• Pure water has a pH of 7.
• Basic solutions have pH values
above 7.

9. pH Scale
• A change of 1 pH unit represents a tenfold
change in the acidity of the solution.
• For example, if one solution has a pH of 1 and
a second solution has a pH of 2, the first
solution is not twice as acidic as the second—
it is ten times more acidic.

10. Acid – Base Reactions
 A reaction between an
acid and a base is
called neutralization.
An acid-base mixture
is not as acidic or
basic as the individual
starting solutions.

11. Acid – Base reactions
 Each salt listed in this
table can be formed by
the reaction between an
acid and a base.

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