Acids and Alkalis

1 of 9 Boardworks Ltd 2012

What are acids and alkalis?

2 of 9 Boardworks Ltd 2012

What are indicators?
Indicators are chemicals that change colour in the presence
of an acid or an alkali.

There are many different indicators. Many of them come

from plants, like red cabbage. Different indicators turn
different colours.

Geranium plants grown

in acidic soil have redder
flowers, while geraniums
grown in alkali soil have
bluer flowers.

Universal indicator is a mixture of indicators. It is useful

because it shows a range of colours from pH 114.

3 of 9 Boardworks Ltd 2012

What does the pH scale show?
The pH scale runs from 1 to 14. The numbers 1 to 6 represent
acidic conditions and 8 to 14 represent alkali conditions.
A pH value 7 is neutral.
What are the pH values of some everyday items?

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

4 of 9 Boardworks Ltd 2012

What does the pH scale show?

5 of 9 Boardworks Ltd 2012

What is the order of pH?

6 of 9 Boardworks Ltd 2012

What are bases?
Bases are substances that react
with acids. All alkalis are bases.

Alkalis are bases that are

soluble in water.

The oxides, hydroxides and

carbonates of metals, such as
sodium hydroxide, are bases.

Ammonia is a base that does

not contain a metal.
7 of 9 Boardworks Ltd 2012
Acids and bases true or false?

8 of 9 Boardworks Ltd 2012

pH change during neutralization

9 of 9 Boardworks Ltd 2012