Physical Science

Chapter 22: Acids, Bases, and Salts

 Try to identify 2 common acids and bases
which are commonly seen.
 Acids
An acid is a substance which gives off H+
ions when it is mixed with water.
Therefore, it always has hydrogen as part
of its formula.
 Properties of Acids
All acids have certain
distinctive properties.
These properties include:
-pH value below 7
-act as electrolytes (a liquid
which will conduct an electric
current)
-are often poisonous
more
-acids taste sour
-are corrosive to metals and living
tissue
-turn litmus paper red
 Different common acids
Citric acid found in
lemons and limes
Hydrochloric acid (HCl)
stomach acid
Sulfuric acid
(H2SO4) battery acid
Acetic acid - vinegar
 Carbonic acid
carbonated
beverages
Nitric acid TNT,
nitroglycerin
Phosphoric acid
detergents and
fertilizers
 Acid rain is rain that has a lower than normal
pH, making it more acidic.
This is caused by pollutants like sulfur and nitrogen
compounds mixing and reacting with moisture in
the air, to form compounds such as H2SO4, sulfuric
acid.
Derrick noticed that at the old cemetery near his
house, a lot of the headstones were weathered to
the point where they could hardly be read.
Derricks dad said that was due to the effects of
acid rain.
How could that happen here, asked Derrick. We
live way out in the country. Answer??
 Derrick then noticed that while a lot of the
headstones were weathered to the point where
they could hardly be read, others that were the
same age were still very clear.
Whats up with that?
 Bases
Bases produce OH- ions in a solution
(water).
Therefore, most bases have OH in their
formulas.
 Some general properties of bases
include the following:

-pH greater than 7

-taste bitter
-slippery
-corrosive to metals and living tissue
-turn litmus paper blue
-act as an electrolyte
 pH
The pH of a solution tells how basic or
acidic it is. 0-14
A pH of 7 is completely neutral, and the
strength of the acid or base increases the
further away it is from 7.
 Acids and bases will
neutralize each other.
Neutralization is a chemical
reaction where the properties
of an acid and a base will
cancel each other out.

Ex. Vinegar and baking soda

 An indicator is a material which will
produce predictable color change when
exposed to an acid or a base.
Litmus paper is a particular type of
indicator which turns red in an acid and
blue in a base.
The End