CHAPTER-2
Exploring Substances: Acidic, Basic, and Neutral
Mind Map
Learning Objectives
• Identify substances as acid, base and neutral.
• Understand what is neutralisation.
• Apply neutralization to everyday health and environment issues.
Prerequisite Knowledge
• Basic safety (never taste unknown chemicals).
• Recognizing physical vs. chemical changes.
Notes
Acids
• Acids are Substances that taste Sour and are corosive in nature.
• Acids turns blue litmus paper to red
Eg: Vinegar, curd, orange juice, hydrochloric acid, etc.
Caution — Do not taste anything until asked to do so. Do not taste any unknown substance.
Bases
Bases are substances that are slippery to touch and bitter in taste.
Bases turns red litmus paper to blue
Eg: Soap, baking soda, sodium hydroxide, etc.
**(Everything that tastes bitter may not contain a base. For example, bitter gourd (karela) possesses a bitter
taste but is not basic in nature)
Indicators-
• Substances which are used to test whether a substance is acidic or basic are called indicators.
• The indicators change their colour when added to a solution containing an acidic or a basic substance.
Natural Indicators
• Some natural occuring indicators are litmus, red rose and turmeric
Litmus
Litmus is a natural substance obtained from lichens.
Red Rose
Red rose extract give red colour in an acidic solution and green colour in a basic solution.
Turmeric
Turmeric turns red in a base, but it stays yellow in both acids and neutral.
Neutral substance
• Substances that are neither acidic nor basic in nature are called neutral substances.
• Neutral substances do not affect the colour of indicators.
Neutralization
The reaction between an acid and a base is known as neutralisation. Salt and water are produced in this
process with the evolution of heat.
Acid + Base Salt + Water + Heat
HCl + NaOH NaCl + H20 + Heat
Salts
Salt is product formed from the neutralization reaction of acids and bases
Neutralization in everyday life
1. In the Treatment of indigestion.
2. In Soil Treatment.
3. In the Treatment of Ant's and Bee's bite
4. In the Neutralisation of Factory Wastes.
3. Observe and analyse Figs. 2.13, 2.14, and 2.15, in which red rose extract paper strips are used. Label the
nature of solutions present in each of the containers.
Ans .
• Fig 2.13: If it turns dark pink/red Acidic.
• Fig 2.14: If it turns green/yellow Basic.
• Fig 2.15: If there is no change Neutral.
4. A liquid sample from the laboratory was tested using various indicators:
Indicat Red Blue Turmeric
or Litmus Litmus
Change No Turned No Change in
Change Red Colour
Based on the tests, identify the acidic or basic nature of the liquid and justify your answer
Ans.
• Nature: Acidic.
• Justification:
The liquid turned blue litmus red, which is the classic test for an acid.
Red litmus and turmeric showed no change, confirming it is not a base.
5. Manya is blindfolded. She is given two unknown solutions to test and determine whether they are acidic
or basic. Which indicator should Manya use to test the solutions and why?
Ans. Manya should use an olfactory indicator, such as onion strips. Because she is blindfolded, she cannot
rely on visual color changes. Olfactory indicators change their smell in acidic or basic media, which she can
detect.
6. Could you suggest various materials which can be used for writing the message on the white sheet of
paper (given at the beginning of the chapter) and what could be in the spray bottle? Make a table of various
possible combinations and the colour of the writing obtained.
• Combination 1: Write with Soap solution; Spray with Turmeric solution. Color: Reddish-brown.
• Combination 2: Write with Lemon juice; Spray with Red cabbage juice. Color: Pink/Red.
7. Grape juice was mixed with red rose extract; the mixture got a tint of red colour. What will happen if
baking soda is added to this mixture? Justify your answer.
The mixture will likely turn green.
Justification: Grape juice turning the red rose extract red indicates it's acidic. Baking soda is basic. If
enough baking soda is added to make the solution basic, the red rose extract indicator will turn green.
8. Keerthi wrote a secret message to her grandmother on her birthday using orange juice. Can you assist
her grandmother in revealing the message? Which indicator would you use to make it visible?
• Indicator to use: Blue litmus solution.
• Why: Orange juice is acidic. When blue litmus is sprayed on the paper, it will turn red only where the juice
was used, making the message appear.
9. How can natural indicators be prepared? Explain by giving an example.
Ans:
• You can make them by extracting color from colorful plants or flowers.
• Example: Boiling red cabbage in water or rubbing turmeric on paper creates a natural indicator.
10. Three liquids are given to you. One is vinegar, another is a baking soda solution, and the third is a sugar
solution. Can you identify them only using turmeric paper? Explain.
• No, we can not identify them only by using turmeric paper:
• Baking Soda: Will turn the turmeric reddish-brown because it is a base.
• Vinegar: Will stay yellow because it is an acid.
• Sugar Solution: Will also stay yellow because it is neutral.
11. The extract of red rose turns the liquid X to green. What will the nature of liquid X be? What will
happen when excess of amla juice is added to liquid X?
• Nature of Liquid X: It is basic (because red rose extract turns green in bases).
• Adding excess Amla juice: Amla juice is very acidic. It will neutralize the base and eventually turn the
solution back to red/pink as the mixture becomes acidic.