ACIDS AND ALKALIS

Acids vs Alkalis
Acids:

Alkalis:

A substance with particular chemical

properties such as

A compound with particular properties such as:

sour tasting
corrosive (hence are able to
dissolve certain metals)
have a pH of less than 7
can neutralize an alkali
Examples: Citric acid (lemons),
ethanoic acid (vinegars) , lactic acid
(yoghurt) , malic acid (apples)

corrosive
turn red litmus paper blue
soapy feeling
good electrical conductors and can neutralize
acids
Examples: sodium hydroxide (soap) , potassium
hydroxide (removing varnish/paint) ,ammonium
hydroxide (fertilizer) , magnesium
hydroxide(toothpaste)

pH value
The pH value is based on the acidity and alkalinity of a substance
For acids, the pH is below 7, 0 being the strongest acidic and 6 being the weakest acid. For
example, hydrochloric acid with a pH of 1 and ethanoic acid with a pH of 5
For alkalis, the pH is above 7, 14 being the strongest alkaline and 8 being the weakest alkali.
For example, potassium hydroxide with a pH of 12 and magnesium hydroxide with a pH of 9
The pH of pure water is 7, which is neutral

Indicators
Indicators are used to test the acidity or alkalinity
of a substance by its colour change
Some examples are universal indicator, blue and
red litmus paper and methyl orange
For universal indicator, the stronger acids turn it
red and it follows the colours of the rainbow as the
pH increases. So the stronger alkalis turn it violet
For blue and red litmus paper, acids turn blue
litmus paper red and alkalis turn red litmus paper
blue
For methyl orange, it turns red at pH 4 and turns
yellow at above pH 4. Thus this is not a good and
accurate indicator

CHEMICAL REACTIONS
Acids can react with metals to produce hydrogen gas
(Hydrochloric acid + Magnesium

Magnesium Chloride + Hydrogen Gas)

Acids can react with carbonates to produce salt + carbon dioxide + water
(Hydrochloric acid + Copper Carbonate
Water)

Copper Chloride + Carbon Dioxide Gas +

Acids can react with alkalis to produce salt + water

(Hydrochloric Acid + Sodium Hydroxide

Sodium Chloride + Water)

Alkalis can react with ammonia salts to produce salt + water + ammonia gas
(Sodium Hydroxide + Ammonia Nitrate
+ Ammonia Gas + Water)

Sodium Nitrate

INTERESTING FACTS
- if you react NaOH (sodium
hydroxide) and HCl
(hydrochloric acid) the product
will be salt water. It is interesting
to know that two strong acids,
when mixed, can form
something so simple and
harmless as salt water
- stomach acid is the strong acid
HCl
- the classic vinegar and baking
soda reaction is an acid base
reaction
- can cause certain organic dyes
to change color

-acids taste sour/sweet

-bases are bitter
-bases react with fat
(Saponification)
-bases feel slippery
-when a base and acid are mixed
they "naturalize" each other
-both are electrolytes (conduct
electricity)
-certain substances can be both
an acid and a base, depending
on the specific situation
(amphoterism)

DONE BY:
EMMA RICHARDSON (11)
ESTHER CHUA (13)
SHANICE LIM (21)
VERA LIM (31)