5.

5 ACID AND ALKALI

• Acid : substances that release hydrogen ion (H+) when dissolved in

water.
• Alkali : substances that release hydroxide ion (OH-) when dissolved in
water.

pH SCALE

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14

INCREASING ACIDITY NEUTRAL INCREASING

ALKALINITY

The Properties of acid and alkali

Acid Alkali

 Sour taste  Bitter taste

 pH value less than 7  pH value more than 7
 Concentrated acids are  Concentrated alkalis are
corrosive corrosive

 Turns the colour of blue litmus  Turns the colour of red litmus
paper to red paper to blue

 Reacts with some reactive  Reacts with ammonium salts

metals and hydrogen is and ammonium gas is released
released

 Reacts with carbonates to give  Soapy feel

off carbon dioxide

 Reacts with alkali to form salt  Reacts with acid to form salt
and water and water
 Acids and alkalis only show their properties in the
presence of water

Some acidic and alkaline substances in daily life

Acidic substances Alkaline substances
Gastric juice, vinegar, milk, black Baking soda, toothpaste, detergen,
coffee milk of magnesia
Uses of acids and alkalis in daily life
Uses of acids:
• dilute sulphuric acid is used as electrolyte in car batteries
• formic acid is used in coagulating latex
Uses of alkalis
• limewater is used to test for the presence of carbon dioxide
• Ammonia is used for preventing the coagulation of latex
• Sodium hydroxide is used for making soap

Neutralisation
A process in which an acid reacts with an alkali to form salt and water

Equation

Acid + alkali Salt + water

Example :

• Hydrochloric acid + Sodium hydroxide Sodium chloride

+ water

• Sulphuric acid + Potassium hydroxide

Uses of neutralisation in daily life

• Toothpaste ( alkaline substance) is used to neutralise acids

produced by the bacteria in the mouth.
• Milk of magnesia ( antacid) is used to neutralise the excess of acid
in the stomach