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CLASS 10: ACIDS, BASES, AND SALTS
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1. CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF ACIDS AND BASES
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Acids and bases exhibit characteristic chemical properties due to the ions they
produce in aqueous solutions. Since ion formation takes place only in
an aqueous medium, water plays a crucial role in enabling these reactions.
* Acids: Furnish hydrogen ions (H+) or more accurately hydronium ions (H3O+).
* Bases: Furnish hydroxide ions (OH-).
* Responsibility: These ions are responsible for all observable chemical
reactions and properties.
KEY CHEMICAL REACTIONS:
A. Reaction with Metals:
Acids react with reactive metals such as zinc, magnesium, iron, and aluminium
to produce a salt and hydrogen gas. In this reaction, hydrogen ions
from the acid are reduced to hydrogen gas, while the metal is oxidized to form
metal ions. This confirms that acids can displace hydrogen from metals
that are more reactive than hydrogen in the reactivity series.
* General Equation: Acid + Metal -> Salt + Hydrogen gas
* Examples:
- Zn + 2HCl -> ZnCl2 + H2
- Mg + H2SO4 -> MgSO4 + H2
- 2Al + 6HCl -> 2AlCl3 + 3H2
B. Reaction with Metal Carbonates:
Acids react with metal carbonates to form salt, water, and carbon dioxide gas.
This reaction occurs because carbonates contain the CO3^2- ion, which reacts with
hydrogen ions to form unstable carbonic acid that decomposes into water and
carbon dioxide gas.
* General Equation: Acid + Metal Carbonate -> Salt + Water + Carbon dioxide
* Examples:
- Na2CO3 + 2HCl -> 2NaCl + H2O + CO2
- CaCO3 + H2SO4 -> CaSO4 + H2O + CO2
C. Reaction with Metal Hydrogen Carbonates:
Acids react with hydrogen carbonates (bicarbonates) to produce salt, water,
and carbon dioxide gas. This reaction is widely used in baking,
where carbon dioxide causes the batter to rise.
* General Equation: Acid + Metal Hydrogen Carbonate -> Salt + Water + Carbon dioxide
* Examples:
- NaHCO3 + HCl -> NaCl + H2O + CO2
- KHCO3 + HNO3 -> KNO3 + H2O + CO2
D. Neutralization Reaction (Acids react with bases):
Neutralization is the reaction in which an acid reacts with a base to form
salt and water. In this process, hydrogen ions combine with hydroxide
ions to form water, thereby neutralizing each other's effect.
* General Equation: Acid + Base -> Salt + Water
* Examples:
- HCl + NaOH -> NaCl + H2O
- H2SO4 + 2KOH -> K2SO4 + 2H2O
- HNO3 + Ca(OH)2 -> Ca(NO3)2 + 2H2O
E. Acids react with Metal Oxides:
Metal oxides are basic in nature and react with acids to form salt and water.
This reaction is similar to neutralization and shows that metal oxides behave
as bases.
* General Equation: Acid + Metal Oxide -> Salt + Water
* Examples:
- CuO + 2HCl -> CuCl2 + H2O
- ZnO + H2SO4 -> ZnSO4 + H2O
- Fe2O3 + 6HCl -> 2FeCl3 + 3H2O
F. Bases react with Acids:
Bases react with acids in neutralization reactions to produce salt and water.
This reaction is widely used in daily life and industries to control pH.
* Examples:
- NaOH + HCl -> NaCl + H2O
- KOH + HNO3 -> KNO3 + H2O
- Ca(OH)2 + H2SO4 -> CaSO4 + 2H2O
G. Bases react with Non-Metal Oxides:
Non-metal oxides such as carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide are acidic in nature.
They react with bases to form salt and water, indicating that these oxides
behave as acids.
* General Equation: Base + Non-metal Oxide -> Salt + Water
* Examples:
- Ca(OH)2 + CO2 -> CaCO3 + H2O
- 2NaOH + CO2 -> Na2CO3 + H2O
- 2NaOH + SO2 -> Na2SO3 + H2O
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2. WHAT DO ALL ACIDS AND BASES HAVE IN COMMON?
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* Common Property: All acids contain hydrogen, but they exhibit acidic properties
only when they release hydrogen ions (H+) in aqueous solution. Similarly,
bases contain hydroxide groups, but they show basic properties only when they
produce hydroxide ions (OH-) in water.
* Key Factor: The key factor determining acidic or basic behavior is ionization
in aqueous solution, not just the presence of certain elements.
* Counter-Examples: Hydrochloric acid and sulphuric acid ionize in water and show
acidic behavior. However, compounds like glucose (C6H12O6) and
ethanol (C2H5OH) contain hydrogen but do not ionize, and therefore do not
behave as acids.
* Examples of Ionization:
- HCl + H2O -> H3O+ + Cl-
- HNO3 -> H+ + NO3-
- NaOH -> Na+ + OH-
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3. HOW DO ACIDS AND BASES IN AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS CONDUCT ELECTRICITY?
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* Electrolytes: Acids and bases conduct electricity in aqueous solutions because
they dissociate into ions, which are free to move and carry electric charge.
These substances are therefore called electrolytes.
* Mechanism: The movement of ions towards electrodes under the influence of an
electric field results in the conduction of electricity. For example,
hydrochloric acid dissociates into hydrogen ions and chloride ions in water.
These ions migrate towards oppositely charged electrodes, enabling the flow of
electric current.
* Non-conductors: In contrast, substances like glucose and alcohol do not produce
ions in solution and hence do not conduct electricity.
* Examples:
- HCl -> H+ + Cl-
- NaOH -> Na+ + OH-
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4. WHY DO ACIDS AND BASES NOT SHOW THEIR PROPERTIES IN DRY STATE?
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* Reason: Acids and bases do not show their characteristic properties in the
dry state because they do not produce ions without the presence of water.
Ionization is essential for acidity and basicity, and this process requires
an aqueous medium.
* Examples:
- Dry hydrogen chloride gas does not change the color of dry litmus paper.
However, when it dissolves in water, it forms hydronium ions, which exhibit
acidic properties.
- Solid sodium hydroxide does not show basic behavior until it is dissolved
in water.
* Example Equation: HCl + H2O -> H3O+ + Cl-
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5. ROLE OF WATER IN ACIDS AND BASES
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* Ionization Medium: Water plays a crucial role in the ionization of acids and
bases. It acts as a medium that facilitates the dissociation of these
substances into ions.
* Ion Production: Acids produce hydronium ions (H3O+), and bases produce
hydroxide ions (OH-) only in the presence of water.
* Conductivity: Water also enables the movement of ions, which is necessary for
electrical conductivity. Therefore, water is essential not only for
ionization but also for the manifestation of acidic and basic properties.
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6. STRENGTH OF ACIDS AND BASES
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* Degree of Ionization: The strength of an acid or base depends on the degree of
ionization in aqueous solution.
* Classification: Strong acids and bases completely ionize, producing a high
concentration of ions, whereas weak acids and bases ionize only partially and
establish an equilibrium.
* Strong Acids:
- HCl -> H+ + Cl-
- HNO3 -> H+ + NO3-
* Weak Acids:
- CH3COOH <=> H+ + CH3COO-
* Strong Bases:
- NaOH -> Na+ + OH-
* Weak Bases:
- NH4OH <=> NH4+ + OH-
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7. pH SCALE
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* Definition: The pH scale is a measure of acidity or basicity of a solution
and ranges from 0 to 14. A lower pH value indicates higher acidity,
while a higher pH value indicates stronger basicity.
* Neutral Value: A pH of 7 is neutral.
* Logarithmic Nature: The scale is logarithmic, meaning each unit change represents
a tenfold change in hydrogen ion concentration.
IMPORTANCE OF pH IN EVERYDAY LIFE:
1. Digestion: The stomach produces hydrochloric acid for digestion, but excess
acid causes discomfort and is neutralized using antacids.
2. Tooth Decay: Tooth decay occurs when the pH in the mouth falls below 5.5,
leading to damage of enamel.
3. Soil: Soil pH affects crop yield, and farmers adjust it using lime.
4. Aquatic Life: The pH of water bodies is also crucial for aquatic life, as
sudden changes can be harmful.
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8. FAMILY OF SALTS
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* Definition: Salts that contain the same concept of cation or anion are said
to belong to the same family. This classification helps in
understanding similarities in chemical properties, reactions, and behavior
in aqueous solutions.
* Examples:
- Sodium Family: Sodium chloride (NaCl), sodium sulphate (Na2SO4), and sodium
nitrate (NaNO3) all belong to the sodium family because they contain the
same sodium ion (Na+).
- Chloride Family: Salts such as potassium chloride (KCl) and calcium
chloride (CaCl2) belong to the chloride family because they contain the
same chloride ion (Cl-).
* Application: Salts belonging to the same family often show similar chemical
behavior because of the presence of common ions. This concept is useful
in predicting reactions, understanding solubility patterns, and analyzing
chemical properties of salts.
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9. MORE ABOUT SALTS
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* Definition: Salts are ionic compounds formed from neutralization reactions
between acids and bases. They consist of cations derived from bases
and anions derived from acids. The nature of a salt depends on the
strength of its parent acid and base.
pH OF SALTS:
* Strong acid + Strong base -> Neutral salt (Example: NaCl)
* Strong acid + Weak base -> Acidic salt (Example: NH4Cl)
* Weak acid + Strong base -> Basic salt (Example: Na2CO3)
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CHEMICALS FROM COMMON SALT (NaCl) -- DETAILED EXPLANATION
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Common salt, chemically known as sodium chloride (NaCl), is not only used in food
but is also an important raw material in the chemical industry. It is used
to manufacture several useful chemicals such as sodium hydroxide (NaOH), chlorine
(Cl2), hydrogen (H2), bleaching powder, baking soda, and washing soda.
These chemicals are produced through different processes, mainly involving
electrolysis and chemical reactions.
1. CHLOR-ALKALI PROCESS:
The most important process for obtaining chemicals from common salt is the
chlor-alkali process. In this process, an aqueous solution of sodium
chloride (called brine) is electrolysed. During electrolysis, the
solution decomposes into different substances at the electrodes.
* Overall Reaction: 2NaCl (aq) + 2H2O (l) -> 2NaOH (aq) + Cl2 (g) + H2 (g)
* Mechanism: When electric current is passed through brine, sodium ions (Na+)
and chloride ions (Cl-) move towards opposite electrodes. Chloride
ions lose electrons (oxidation) and form chlorine gas, while water molecules
gain electrons (reduction) and release hydrogen gas. The remaining
sodium ions combine with hydroxide ions to form sodium hydroxide solution.
* Output Positions:
- At Anode (positive electrode): Chlorine gas is released
- At Cathode (negative electrode): Hydrogen gas is released
- In Solution: Sodium hydroxide is formed
* Uses of Products:
- Sodium hydroxide (NaOH): Used in making soaps and detergents, used in paper
and textile industries, used in degreasing metals.
- Chlorine gas (Cl2): Used in water purification, used in making bleaching
powder, used in manufacture of PVC, disinfectants.
- Hydrogen gas (H2): Used as a clean fuel, used in making ammonia (fertilizers),
used in hydrogenation of vegetable oils.
2. BLEACHING POWDER (CaOCl2):
Bleaching powder is produced by passing chlorine gas over dry slaked lime
(calcium hydroxide). Chlorine reacts with calcium hydroxide to form
bleaching powder, which contains calcium oxychloride. It is widely used
as a bleaching and disinfecting agent.
* Chemical Reaction: Ca(OH)2 + Cl2 -> CaOCl2 + H2O
* Uses:
- Used for bleaching cotton and linen
- Used as a disinfectant for drinking water
- Used as an oxidizing agent in chemical industries
3. BAKING SODA (NaHCO3):
Baking soda, also known as sodium hydrogen carbonate, is obtained from sodium
chloride through a chemical process involving ammonia. The carbon dioxide
released during its use causes cakes and bread to rise, making baking soda an
important ingredient in baking.
* Preparation: NaCl + NH3 + H2O + CO2 -> NH4Cl + NaNaHCO3|
(Sodium hydrogen carbonate precipitates out)
* Thermal decomposition: When heated, baking soda decomposes to form sodium
carbonate, water, and carbon dioxide gas.
Equation: 2NaHCO3 -> Na2CO3 + H2O + CO2
* Uses:
- Used in baking powder
- Used as an antacid
- Used in fire extinguishers
4. WASHING SODA (Na2CO3.10H2O):
Washing soda, or sodium carbonate, is obtained by heating baking soda and then
crystallizing it. The product formed contains water of crystallization,
which gives washing soda its crystalline structure.
* Preparation:
- Step 1: 2NaHCO3 -> Na2CO3 + H2O + CO2
- Step 2 (crystallization): Na2CO3 + 10H2O -> Na2CO3.10H2O
* Uses:
- Used as a cleaning agent
- Used in softening hard water
- Used in manufacture of glass, soap, and paper
5. PLASTER OF PARIS:
Plaster of Paris is prepared by heating gypsum at about 100-120 degree C.
It loses water of crystallization and forms calcium sulphate hemihydrate