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Acids and bases are fundamental concepts in chemistry that play a crucial role in our daily lives. From the sour taste of lemon juice to the slippery feel of soap, acids and bases are everywhere. Acids are substances that release hydrogen ions (H⁺) when dissolved in water, while bases release hydroxide ions (OH⁻). The strength of these substances can vary, influencing everything from the pH of our blood to the effectiveness of household cleaning products. Understanding acids and bases is key to grasping many chemical reactions and processes, making this topic an essential part of your chemistry studies.The term acid is derived from a Latin word ‘acidus’ or ‘acere’, which means sour. The most common characteristic is their sour taste.
Important Questions and Answers
1. What is the most common characteristic of acids?
The most common characteristic of acids is their sour taste.
2.What ion does an acid produce in an aqueous solution?
An acid produces the ionizable hydronium ion (H3O+) in its aqueous solution.
3.What color change does an acid cause on blue litmus paper?
An acid turns blue litmus paper red.
4.How is an acid defined?
An acid is defined as a substance whose water solution tastes sour, turns blue litmus paper red, and neutralizes bases.
5.What is the effect of an acid on bases?
An acid neutralizes bases.
6.Differentiate Natural and mineral acids.
Natural Acids: These are obtained from natural sources, such as fruits and animal products. For e.g. lactic, ctiric, and tartaric acid etc.
Mineral Acids: Mineral acids are acids prepared from minerals. Examples are Hydrochloric acid (HCl), Sulphuric Acid (H2SO4), and ntiric acid (HNO3), etc.
Many acids and bases occur naturally in nature, such as ctiric acid in fruits like orange, lemon, etc, tartaric acid in tamarind, malic acid in apples, and lactic acid in milk and milk products, hydrochloric acid in gatsric juices.Similarly, many bases are found such as lime water. We use many of these acids in our day-to-day life, such as vinegar or acetic acid in the kitchen, boric acid for laundry, baking soda for the purpose of cooking, washing soda for cleaning, etc.
7. What is the most common characteristic of base ?
The most common characteristic of bases is their bitter taste and soapy feel.
8.What ion does an base produce in an aqueous solution?
A base is a substance that renders hydroxyl ion(OH–) in their aqueous solution.
9.What color change does a base cause on red litmus paper?
Bases turn the colour of red litmus paper to blue.
10.How is an base defined?
A substance is called base if its aqueous solution tastes bitter, turns red litmus blue, or neturalizes acids.
Colour change with Indicators
Acid + Methyl orange =Red
Base + Methyl Orange = Yellow
Acid +Phenopthalin = Colourless
Base +Phenophthalin=Yellow
Acid in Food items
Butter Milk, Curd – Lactic Acid
Vinegar – Acetic Acid
Lemon – Citric Acid
Tamarind – Tartaric Acid
Apple – Malik Acid
Gooseberry- Ascorbic Acid
Tomato- Oxalic Acid
Example for Strong Acid
Hydrochloric Acid
Nitric Acid
Sulphuric Acid
Acetic Acid
Example for Strong Base
Calcium hydroxide
Sodium hydroxide (Caustic soda)
Pottassium hydroxide (Caustic potash)
Ant Bite
There is formic acid in the body of ants. When ants bite, this acid enters our body. This reacts with human body and this why ant bite causes pain.
Acid in the body
Hydrochloric acid is produced in the stomach to facilitate digestion of food. Some persons may have enhanced production of this acid, resulting condition is called acidity.
Acid +Metal
When Acid react with Metal it Produce Hydrogen. It is flammable gas.
pH of Acids and Bases
To find the numeric value of the acidity or basicity level of a substance, the pH scale (pH stands for ‘potential of hydrogen’) can be used. Here, the pH scale is the most common and trusted procedure to measure how acidic or basic a substance is. Also, a pH scale measure can differ from 0 to 14, where 14 is the most basic, and 0 is the most acidic a substance can be.
Uses of Acid
Sulphuric Acid: Use in Motor vehicle Battery.Chemical fertilizers.
Nitric Acid: Chemical fertilizers, Paint,dyes..etc
Tannic Acid: Use in leather and Ink.
Uses of Base
Calcium Hydroxide: To reduce acidity in soil.
Sodium Hydroxide:To make soap, Paper, Rayon..etc
Pottasium Hydroxide: To make soft soap
Aluminium hydroxide: To make medicines
Magnesium hydroxide: To make medicines.
