Class 10 Science
Chapter 2: Acids, Bases and Salts
Board CBSE Subject Science (Chemistry)
Class 10th Chapter 2 — Acids, Bases and Salts
1. Introduction to Acids, Bases and Salts
1.1 Acids
Acids are substances that have a sour taste and turn blue litmus red. They produce H+ (hydrogen) ions in
aqueous solution.
• Natural acids: Acetic acid (vinegar), Citric acid (lemon), Tartaric acid (tamarind), Lactic acid (curd),
Oxalic acid (tomato)
• Mineral acids (strong): HCl (hydrochloric), H2SO4 (sulphuric), HNO3 (nitric)
1.2 Bases
Bases are substances that have a bitter taste, soapy feel, and turn red litmus blue. They produce OH- ions
in aqueous solution.
• NaOH — sodium hydroxide (caustic soda)
• Ca(OH)2 — calcium hydroxide (slaked lime)
• Mg(OH)2 — milk of magnesia (antacid)
• NH4OH — ammonium hydroxide
■■ All bases are NOT alkalis. Alkalis are bases that are soluble in water (e.g., NaOH, KOH).
1.3 Salts
Salts are ionic compounds formed by the reaction of an acid with a base (neutralisation). They can be
acidic, basic, or neutral.
2. Indicators
Indicators are substances that change colour in acidic or basic solutions to indicate the nature of the
substance.
Indicator In Acid In Base In Neutral
Litmus (Blue) Turns Red Stays Blue No change
Litmus (Red) Stays Red Turns Blue No change
Methyl Orange Red / Pink Yellow Orange
Phenolphthalein Colourless Pink / Magenta Colourless
Turmeric Yellow Red-Brown Yellow
China rose Magenta/Pink Green Colourless
Olfactory Indicators:
• Onion — smell disappears in basic solution
• Vanilla / clove oil — smell disappears in basic solution
3. Chemical Properties of Acids and Bases
3.1 Acids react with Metals
Acid + Metal → Salt + Hydrogen gas
• Zn(s) + H2SO4(aq) → ZnSO4(aq) + H2(g)
• Fe(s) + 2HCl(aq) → FeCl2(aq) + H2(g)
3.2 Acids react with Metal Carbonates / Bicarbonates
Metal Carbonate + Acid → Salt + Water + CO2
• Na2CO3(s) + 2HCl(aq) → 2NaCl(aq) + H2O(l) + CO2(g)
• NaHCO3(s) + HCl(aq) → NaCl(aq) + H2O(l) + CO2(g)
3.3 Acids react with Metal Oxides
Metal Oxide + Acid → Salt + Water
• CuO(s) + 2HCl(aq) → CuCl2(aq) + H2O(l)
3.4 Bases react with Metals
Base + Metal → Salt + Hydrogen gas
• 2NaOH(aq) + Zn(s) → Na2ZnO2(aq) + H2(g)
3.5 Neutralisation Reaction
Acid + Base → Salt + Water (exothermic)
• NaOH(aq) + HCl(aq) → NaCl(aq) + H2O(l)
• Ca(OH)2(aq) + H2SO4(aq) → CaSO4(s) + 2H2O(l)
4. pH Scale
pH measures the concentration of H+ ions in a solution. The scale ranges from 0 to 14.
pH Range Nature Examples
0–3 Strongly Acidic Battery acid, HCl, Stomach acid
4–6 Weakly Acidic Lemon juice, Vinegar, Soft drinks
7 Neutral Pure water
8 – 10 Weakly Basic Baking soda, Sea water, Soap
11 – 14 Strongly Basic NaOH solution, Bleach
Importance of pH in Daily Life:
• Our stomach has pH ~2 (acidic) — helps digest food; excess acid causes acidity, treated with
antacids (Mg(OH)2)
• Tooth decay occurs when pH in mouth falls below 5.5 — caused by bacteria-produced acids
• Soil pH affects plant growth — farmers add lime (CaO) to correct acidic soil
• Bee sting is acidic (formic acid) — treated with baking soda (NaHCO3)
• Wasp sting is basic — treated with vinegar
5. Important Salts and Their Uses
5.1 Common Salt — NaCl (Sodium Chloride)
• Used in food, preservation, and as raw material for many chemicals
• Electrolysis of brine (NaCl solution) gives: Cl2(g), H2(g), NaOH(aq)
• This process is called the Chlor-alkali process
Product Use
Chlorine (Cl<sub>2</sub>) Water purification, PVC, disinfectants
Hydrogen (H<sub>2</sub>) Fuel, margarine, ammonia production
Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) Soap, paper, detergents, textiles
5.2 Baking Soda — NaHCO3 (Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate)
Prepared by passing CO2 through a cold concentrated solution of NaCl saturated with NH3 (Solvay
Process).
• Used in baking as a leavening agent — releases CO2 which makes cake/bread fluffy
• Used in fire extinguishers — NaHCO3 releases CO2 on heating
• Used as antacid to relieve acidity
• Reaction on heating: 2NaHCO3 → Na2CO3 + H2O + CO2
5.3 Washing Soda — Na2CO3·10H2O (Sodium Carbonate Decahydrate)
Prepared by heating baking soda to get Na2CO3, then recrystallising with water.
• Used as a cleaning agent in laundry and for removing grease
• Used in glass, soap, and paper industries
• Used to remove permanent hardness of water
5.4 Bleaching Powder — Ca(OCl)Cl or CaOCl2
Prepared by passing Cl2 over dry slaked lime: Ca(OH)2 + Cl2 → CaOCl2 + H2O
• Used for bleaching cotton, linen, and wood pulp in the paper industry
• Used as a disinfectant for drinking water supplies
• Used to make wool shrink-resistant
5.5 Plaster of Paris — CaSO4·½H2O (Hemihydrate)
Prepared by heating gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O) at 373 K:
CaSO4·2H2O → CaSO4·½H2O + 1½H2O
• Sets hard (rehydrates to gypsum) when mixed with water — used in plaster casts for broken bones
• Used by doctors to set fractured bones, in toys, decoration materials, chalk
■■ Plaster of Paris should be stored in a moisture-proof container to avoid setting prematurely.
6. Water of Crystallisation
Water of crystallisation is the fixed number of water molecules present in one formula unit of a salt crystal.
Salts containing water of crystallisation are called hydrated salts.
Salt Formula Water of Crystallisation Common Name
Copper sulphate
CuSO<sub>4</sub>·5H<sub>2</sub>O 5 molecules Blue vitriol
Ferrous sulphate
FeSO<sub>4</sub>·7H<sub>2</sub>O 7 molecules Green vitriol
Gypsum CaSO<sub>4</sub>·2H<sub>2</sub>O 2 molecules Gypsum
Plaster of Paris
CaSO<sub>4</sub>·½H<sub>2</sub>O ½ molecule Plaster of Paris
Washing
Na<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub>·10H<sub>2</sub>O
soda 10 molecules Washing soda
Alum
KAl(SO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub>·12H<sub>2</sub>O
12 molecules Alum / Fitkari
7. Quick Revision Table
Property Acid Base
Taste Sour Bitter
Feel Normal Soapy/slippery
Litmus test Blue → Red Red → Blue
pH Less than 7 More than 7
H<super>+</super>/OH<super>-</super> ions
Releases H<super>+</super> Releases OH<super>-</super>
Effect on Zn Salt + H<sub>2</sub> Salt + H<sub>2</sub>
8. Important Points to Remember
★ Acids contain H+ ions; bases contain OH- ions in aqueous solution.
★ Diluting an acid: ALWAYS add acid to water, NEVER add water to acid (exothermic reaction can
be dangerous).
★ Universal indicator gives a range of colours corresponding to different pH values.
★ pH < 7 → Acidic; pH = 7 → Neutral; pH > 7 → Basic/Alkaline.
★ Baking soda (NaHCO3) is used in fire extinguishers and as antacid.
★ Washing soda removes permanent hardness of water.
★ Plaster of Paris + Water → Gypsum (sets hard) — used for fractured bones.
★ Bleaching powder + dil. H2SO4 → Cl2 gas released (acts as bleaching agent).
★ Anhydrous CuSO4 is white; it turns blue (CuSO4·5H2O) on adding water — used to test for water.
★ Tooth decay is due to pH below 5.5 in the mouth caused by acid from bacteria.
Class 10 Science | Chapter 2: Acids, Bases and Salts | CBSE Notes