ACIDS

What is acid?
An acid is a chemical substance, which ionizes in water to produce hydrogen ions, H+
When acids dissolved in water, the hydrogen atoms in acids are released as hydrogen ions, H+.
The hydrogen ion combined with water molecule, H2O to form a hydroxonium ion, H3O+. However,
this ion can be written as H+.
We can classify an acid as a monoprotic acid or a diprotic acid based on basicity.
Basicity of an acid is the number of mole of H+ ion that can be produced by one mole of acid when it
dissolves in water.
Monoprotic acid

Ionisation

Hydrochloric acid, HCl

Ethanoic acid, CH3COOH
Diprotic acid

Ionisation

Sulphuric acid, H2SO4

BASES
What is base?
A base is a chemical substance that can neutralize an acid to produce a salt and water.
Examples of bases are;
i.
ii.

metal hydroxides
metal oxide

Most bases are not soluble in water. Bases that are soluble in water are known as alkalis.

Bases: all metal oxides or metal hydroxides

Alkalis: only bases that soluble in water

Bases that are insoluble in water

Bases that are soluble in water

Zinc oxide, ZnO

Zinc hydroxide, Zn(OH)2
Copper(II) oxide, CuO2
Copper(II) hydroxide, Cu(OH)2

Sodium oxide, Na2O

Sodium hydroxide, NaOH
Potassium oxide, K2O
Potassium hydroxide, KOH
Calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH)2
Ammonia, NH3

Role of water and the properties of acids

Light
bulb

Switch

Carbon

Carbon

Switch

Carbon

Glacial
Ethanoic
acid

Results
Acid
Ethanoic acid
(molecule)

Condition
Glacial
(dry)
Aqueous

Hydrogen
chloride
(molecule)

Observation
- No colour change in
the litmus paper
- Light bulb is not lighted up
- Blue litmus paper is
changed to red
- Light bulb is lighted up

Light
bulb

Carbon

Aqueous
Ethanoic
acid

Inference
Does not show any acidic
properties
Shows acidic properties

Dissolved in
methylbenzene

- No colour change in
the litmus paper
- Light bulb is not lighted up

Does not show any acidic

properties

Aqueous

- Blue litmus paper is

changed to red
- Light bulb is lighted up

Shows acidic properties

Discussion
The hydrogen ions, H+ are responsible for acids to show their properties
1. Glacial/dry ethanoic acid does not show acidic properties because without water, ethanoic acid
remains or exists as molecules and there are no hydrogen ions present.
2. Aqueous ethanoic acid shows acidic properties because in water, ethanoic acid ionises to form
hydrogen ions, H+.
4. Hydrogen chloride gas in methylbenzene does not show acidic properties and does not conduct
electricity, because it exists as covalent molecules.
5. Hydrogen chloride gas in water shows acidic properties and conduct electricity. This is because
hydrogen chloride ionises in water to form hydrogen ions, H+ thus hydrochloric acid is formed.
6. Aqueous ethanoic acid and hydrochloric acid can conduct electricity because in the solutions the
ions can move freely.
Conclusion

An acid only shows its acidic properties when dissolved in water.

Chemicals Properties of Acid
a. Acids react with bases to form salts and water.
Examples;
i. H2SO4 + ZnO
ii. 2HCl + CuO
b. Acids react with alkalis to form salts and water.
Examples;
i. HCl + NaOH
ii. H2SO4 + Ca(OH)2
c. Acids react with reactive metal to produce salts and hydrogen gas.
Examples;
i. 2HCl + Mg
ii. H2SO4 + Zn
Reactive metals: Mg, Al, Zn (use this metals only)
d. Acids react with carbonate compound to produce salts, water and carbon
dioxide.
Examples;
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i. 2HCl + PbCO3
ii. H2SO4 + CuCO3
Role of water and the properties of alkalis

Light
bulb

Switch

Carbon

Switch

Carbon

Carbon

Ammonia
in tetrachloromethane

Light
bulb

Carbon

Ammonia
in water

Results
Acid

Condition

Ammonia
(molecule)

Observation

Inference

In tetra
chloromethane

- No colour change in
the litmus paper
- Light bulb is not lighted up

Does not show any alkalis

properties

Aqueous

- Blue litmus paper is

changed to red
- Light bulb is lighted up

Shows alkalis properties

Discussion
The hydroxide ions, OH- are responsible for alkalis to show their properties
1. Ammonia liquid in tetrachloromethane does not show alkalis properties because it exists as
molecules.
2. Aqueous ammonia acid shows acidic properties because in water, ethanoic acid ionises to form
hydroxide ions, OH-.
Ionisation equation for ammonia;
+ H2O (l)
NH3 (l)
Ammonia

NH4+ (aq) +
OH (aq)
ammonium ion
hydroxide ion

3. Hydroxide ion, OH- in ammonia solution / solution hydroxide cause solution shows alkalis
properties.
4. Ammonia gas in methylbenzene does not show alkalis properties and does not conduct electricity
because it exits as a molecules.
5. Ammonia gas in water shows alkalis properties and conduct electricity because in the solutions the
ions can move freely.
Conclusion
Bases and alkalis only show its alkalis properties when dissolved in water.
Chemicals Properties of Alkalis
a. Alkalis react with acids to form salts and water.
Examples;
i. NaOH + HCl

ii. Ca(OH)2 + H2SO4

b. When a mixture of an alkali and an ammonium salt is heated, ammonia
gas is, NH3 is liberated.
Examples;
i. NaOH + NH4Cl
ii. Ca(OH)2 + 2NH4Cl
The Strength of Acids and Alkalis
1. The pH scale us used to indicate the degree of acidity or alkalinity of a solutions.
Neutral
Increasingly acidic
Increasingly alkaline
pH

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11

12

13

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Strong and Weak Acids/Alkalis

1. The strength of an acid or alkali depends on the degree of ionisation or dissociation of the acid or
alkali in water.
2. Strong Acid: An acid which ionises completely in water.
Example; HCl
H2SO4

(monoprotic acid)
(diprotic acid)

3. Weak Acid: An acid which ionises partially in water.

Example; CH3COOH
4. Strong Alkali: An alkali which ionises completely in water.
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Example; NaOH

5. Weak Alkali: An alkali which ionises partially in water.

NH4 + + OH-

Example; NH3 + H2O

Concentrations of Acids and Alkalis

1. Concentration of solution can be expressed in gdm-3 or mol dm-3.
Number of mole of solute (mol)

Concentration
(mol /dm3)

mol dm

MOLARITY

Mass of solute/substance (g)

Concentration
(g /dm3)

-3

Volume of solution (dm3)

Volume of solution (dm3)

x molar mass (g mol-1)

g dm -3

-1

molar mass (g mol )

Example. 1:
A student dissolves 50.0 g of anhydrous copper(II) sulphate in water to make a 250 cm3 of solution.
What is the concentration of the solution in mol dm3?
Solution: Mass of anhydrous copper(II) sulphate, CuSO4 = 50.0 g
Volume of solution =

250
= 0.25 dm3
1000

Concentration of CuSO4 solution =

50.0 g
0.25 dm 3

200 gdm-3 = 200

mol dm-3
64 + 32 + 4x16

= 200.0 g dm3

molar mass

Example 2:
28.0 g of potassium hydroxide is dissolved in water to make 200 cm3 of solution.
Calculate the molarity of potassium hydroxide solution obtained.
(Ar: H, 1; O, 16; K, 39) Ans: 2.5 mol dm3
Solution:

Question 1
Find (a) the concentration of a sodium in grams per dm3 when 36.5 g of hydrogen chloride, HCl is
dissolved in water to make up 500 cm3 of solution. (Ans:73.0 g dm-3 )
(b) the molarity of a solution which is prepared by dissolving 0.30 mol of sodium hydroxide,
NaOH in distilled water to make up 250 cm3 of solution. (Ans: 1.20 mol dm-3)
Solution:
(a)

(b)

Question 2
The molarity of a bottle of nitric acid, HNO3 solution is 2.0 mol dm-3. What is the concentration of
sodium in g dm-3
[Relative atomic masses: H, 1; N, 14; O, 16] Ans: 126 g dm-3
Solution;

Question 3
Calculate the molarity of a sodium sulphate, Na2SO4 solution with a concentration of 28.4 g dm-3.
[Relative atomic masses: O, 16; Na, 23; S, 32] Ans: 0.2 mol dm-3

Question 4
A student pipettes 25.0 mol dm3 of sodium hydroxide, NaOH solution into a conical flask. The
concentration of the alkali was 1.5 mol dm-3. Calculate the number of moles of sodium hydroxide,
NaOH in the flask. Ans: 0.0375 mol

Preparation of Standard Solutions by Dilution Method

Standard solution is a solution in which its concentration is accurately known.
Use this formula ok..
M 1 V1 = M 2 V2
M1
V1
M2
V2

=
=
=
=

molarity of the solution before water is added

volume of the solution before water is added
molarity of the solution after water is added
volume of the solution after water is added

a) Preparation of standard solution

- prepared by using a volumetric flask

Calibration mark

b) Preparation of a solution by dilution method

- adding distilled water to a concentrated solution
- changes the concentration of the solution
- does not change the amount of solute
Example 1:
Find the volume of 2.0 mol dm3 sulphuric acid, H2SO4 needed to prepare 100 cm3 of 1.0 mol dm-3
sulphuric acid, H2SO4.
Solution;
M 1 V1 = M 2 V2
2.0 mol dm-3 V1 =

1.0 mol dm-3 100 cm3

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V1 = 1.0 mol dm-3 100 cm3

2.0 mol dm-3

= 50 cm3

Example 2:
Volume of 2.0 mol dm3 nitric acid needed to be diluted with distilled water to make 250 cm3 of
0.5 mol dm3 nitric acid?
Solution:
Example 3:
50 cm3 of water is added to 200 cm3 of a 2 mol dm3 solution of sodium hydroxide.
Determine the molarity of the diluted solution.

Neutralization
Definition: The reaction between an acid and a base to produce a salt and water only.
Example :

i.

HCl + NaOH NaCl + H2O

ii.

H2SO4 + CuO CuSO4 + H2O

The ionic equation for neutralization;

H+ + OH- H2O
Acid-Base Titration

Burett
e
Retort
stand

Hydrochloric acid,
HCl

Conical flask
25 cm3 sodium hydroxide, NaOH + phenolphthalein

Indicator

Colour in alkalis

Methyl orange
Phenolphthalein
Litmus

Yellow
Pink
Blue

Colour in neutral
Orange
Colourless
Purple

Colour in acids
Red
Colourless
Red

Calculation involving neutralization using balanced equations.

MA VA
a
MA = Molarity of alkali
VA = Volume of alkali

MB VB
b
MB = Molarity of base
VB = Volume of base

a = number of mole of acid from balanced chemical equation

b = number of mole of base from balanced chemical equation
Question 1:
A student pipettes 25.0 mol dm-3 of sodium hydroxide, NaOH solution into a conical flask and filled a
burette with 0.10 mol dm-3 hydrochloric acid, HCl to carry out titration. He obtained an average volume
of 22.0 cm3 hydrochloric acid, HCl. What was the molarity of the sodium hydroxide, NaOH solution?
[ans: 0.088 mol dm-3]

Question 2:
What is the volume of 0.5 mol dm-3 sulphuric acid, H2SO4 needed to neutralize 25.0 cm3 of 0.8 mol dm-3
ammmonia, NH3 solution?[Ans: 20.0 cm3]

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Question 3:
A sample of copper(II) oxide, CuO was found to completely neutralize 100 cm3 of 0.5 mol dm-3
hydrochloric acid. Calculate the mass of sample. [Ans : 2.0 g]

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