Chapt. 2.

Exploring Substances – Acidic, Basic

and Neutral
Multiple Paths — Choose Correct Answers
Part 1– Choose the correct option in each of the following questions.
1. Radhika is trying to clean a turmeric stain off from her white clothes using
detergent. But during washing, the turmeric stain changes its colour from yellow
to red. Which of the following is the correct reason for this change in colour?
Ans. b. The detergent, being a base, changes the colour of turmeric from yellow to
red.
2. Which of the following indicators turn red in an acid but turns yellow in a
basic solution?
Ans. b. Methyl orange
3. Our stomach utilises acids to digest the food we eat. Which of the following
acids is present in our stomach?
Ans. c. Hydrochloric acid
4. Our parents and dentists always tell us to brush our teeth properly, preferably
twice a day, so that we do not get cavities. Which property of toothpaste prevents
the formation of cavities?
Ans. b. Presence of base in toothpaste.
5. After getting bitten by an ant, why does one apply baking soda?
Ans. c. It neutralises the acid

Part 2– Choose the correct option(s) in each of the following. [More than one
option might be correct].
6. White marble stones can be damaged by acid rain, causing them to change
colour from bright white to a dull yellow. Which of the following air pollutant(s)
is/are responsible for acid rain?
Ans. a. Sulphur dioxide, c. Carbon dioxide
7. Your chemistry teacher has given you two clear solutions and told you that one
of them is an acid and another is neutral solution. Which indicator(s) cannot be
used to distinguish between the two solutions?
Ans. b. Turmeric juice, d. Phenolphthalein
8. A student is performing a test in a laboratory where she added a few drops of
vinegar to some baking soda in a test tube. Which of the following phenomena
will the student observe?
Ans. c. The solution produces bubbles and turns fizzy.
d. The solution makes a hissing sound.
9. Your friend Mayank has been stung by a honeybee. Which of the following
chemical(s) can you use to ease his pain?
Ans. a. Calamine, d. Baking soda
10. A farmer notices that his crops are not growing well. When he checks the
quality of the soil, he finds it to be very acidic. Which of following substance(s)
can he add to the soil to make the crops grow better?
Ans. c. Quick lime, d. Lime water

 Complete the Story — Fill the Missing Information

1. Acids obtained from plants and animals are generally __________ in nature.
Ans. organic
2. Soaps used for skincare and bathing contain caustic __________.
Ans. soda (sodium hydroxide)
3. __________ is an organism that grows on rocks and produce a mauve coloured
substance we use as indicator in chemistry laboratories.
Ans. Lichen
4. A neutral solution will __________ the colour of both red and blue litmus paper.
Ans. not changes
5. Toothpaste is basic in nature because of the presence of __________.
Ans. calcium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate
6. __________ is a neutral fluid present in our body.
Ans. Water
 True or False Journey — Test Fact Accuracy
1. All salts are white in colour.
Ans. False; not all salts are white; some salts are coloured.
2. Vinegar, used in cooking, contains hydrochloric acid.
Ans. False; vinegar contains acetic acid, not hydrochloric acid
3. Most acids are sour in taste whereas, bases are bitter.
Ans. True
4. Indian blackberry extract turns yellow when it comes in contact with basic
solutions.
Ans. False; Indian blackberry does not turn yellow in basic solutions.
5. Human blood is slightly acidic in nature.
Ans. False; human blood is slightly alkaline in nature.
6. Melting of ice is an example of exothermic reaction.
Ans. False; melting of ice is an endothermic change.

 Statements Pairs — Connect Cause and Effect

1. Asser on (A) Blue litmus paper turns red when dipped in soap solu on.

Reason (R) Soap solu on is basic in nature and bases change red litmus to blue.

Ans. d. Asser on is false, but Reason is true. The Asser on is false because blue
litmus does not turn red in soap solu on. the Reason is true because soap is basic
and turns red litmus blue.

2. Asser on (A) Orange juice contains citric acid and ascorbic acid.

Reason (R) The common name for ascorbic acid is Vitamin C.

Ans. b. Both Asser on and Reason are true, but Reason is not the correct explana on
of the Asser on.

3. Asser on (A) Baking soda solu on is used to relieve the s ng of an ant bite.

Reason (R) Baking soda is a base that neutralises the acidic effect of the ant bite.
Ans. a. Both Asser on and Reason are true and Reason is the correct explana on of
Asser on.

4. Asser on (A) Indiges on is caused by excess water in the stomach.

Reason (R) Antacid tablets are used to treat indiges on.

Ans. d. Asser on is false, but Reason is true. The Asser on is false because
indiges on is caused by excess acid. The Reason is true because antacids are used to
treat it.

5. Asser on (A) If a drop of methyl orange is added to some saliva, the solu on will
not change colour.

Reason (R) Saliva is neutral in nature.

Ans. a. Both Asser on and Reason are true and Reason is the correct explana on of
Asser on.

 Quick Concept Check — Brief Topic Review

1. Which acid is used in aerated drinks?

Ans. Carbonic acid is used in aerated drinks.

2. Name one acid that is a very common ingredient in Chinese food and can also act
as a great cleaning agent.

Ans. Ace c acid (vinegar) is commonly used in Chinese food for flavour and is also
used as a cleaning agent at home due to its acidic nature.

3. Which acid is present in tamarind (Imli)?

Ans. Tartaric acid is present in tamarind.

4. What is the phenomenon of yellowing of white Taj Mahal marbles due to acid
rain known as?

Ans. The yellowing of the white marble of the Taj Mahal due to acid rain is known as
Marble Cancer.

5. Name an indicator which changes smell, not colour.

Ans. Olfactory indicator (e.g., onion)

6. What is the colour of pure litmus?

Ans. The colour of pure litmus is mauve (purple).

7. Which common kitchen ingredient, when mixed with an acid like vinegar,
produces bubbles due to the release of a gas?

Ans. Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) when mixed with vinegar produces bubbles
due to the release of carbon dioxide gas.

8. Sodium hydroxide reacts with hydrochloric acid to form salt. What is the other
product of the reac on?

Ans. The other product of the reac on is water.

9. Which component present in toothpaste helps to remove food par cles from
teeth?

Ans. Calcium carbonate present in toothpaste acts as a mild abrasive that helps to
scrub and remove food par cles from the surface of the teeth.

10. What is the chemical nature of waste products coming out of factories?

Ans. The waste products coming out of factories are generally acidic in nature.

11. Complete the missing informa on in the given flowchart by filling the correct
answers.

Imagine a solu on which reacts with phenolphthalein and remains colourless.

It indicates that the substance is acidic or neutral in nature.

The nature of the substance can be confirmed by litmus as it changes blue litmus to
red colour.

 Detailed Explora on — Indepth Answers

1. Substances like acids and bases are commonly used in households and industries.
Explain their proper es and how they interact with each other.

Ans. Acids and bases are two important classes of chemical substances that are
widely used in daily life and in industries.

 Acids are substances that have a sour taste and turn blue litmus paper red.
They react with metals to produce hydrogen gas and with carbonates to
produce carbon dioxide gas. Common examples of acids include hydrochloric
acid, sulphuric acid, citric acid found in lemons and ace c acid found in
vinegar.
 Bases are substances that have a bi er taste and a soapy feel. They turn red
litmus paper blue. Common examples of bases include sodium hydroxide,
 calcium hydroxide and baking soda. Bases that dissolve in water are called
alkalis.

When acids and bases react with each other, they undergo a neutralisa on
reac on, producing salt and water.

2. The terms ‘base’ and ‘alkali’ are usually used to mean the same thing, however
there are differences between them. Men on the difference between a base and
an alkali, with examples.

Ans. A base is a substance that neutralises acids. It may or may not be soluble in
water. Example– Copper oxide

An alkali is a base that is soluble in water. Example– Sodium hydroxide, potassium

hydroxide Thus, all alkalis are bases, but not all bases are alkalis.

3. Your friend is performing a reac on where she added hydrochloric acid to

ammonia. She observes that the test tube becomes warm.

i. Name and define the type of reac on occurring here.

Ans. i. The type of reac on occurring here is a neutralisa on reac on. A

neutralisa on reac on is a chemical reac on in which an acid reacts with a base to
form a salt and water. In this case, hydrochloric acid reacts with ammonia (a base) to
form ammonium chloride, which is a salt.

ii. What is the reason for the test tube becoming warm?

Ans. ii. The test tube becomes warm because neutralisa on reac ons are exothermic
in nature. This means that heat energy is released during the reac on.

4. Your science teacher gives you three test tubes labelled A, B and C, each
containing a different solu on (Solu on of tartaric acid, Soap solu on, Pure water
respec vely). You are also given two indicators — blue litmus and red rose extract.
Test all three solu ons using both indicators and record your observa ons in a
table.

Ans. Observa on Table

Test Tube Solu on Effect on Blue Effect on Red Nature of

Litmus Rose Extract Solu on
A Tartaric acid Turns red Dark pink/red Acidic
B Soap solu on No change Green Basic
C Pure water No change No change Neutral
5. Sanjay was playing with his friends at the playground when a wasp stung him. He
was in a lot of pain so he asked the elders in the ground for help. One of the elders
suggested applying baking soda while another elder advised him to use vinegar or
lemon juice to get relief from the pain. Who is correct and why?

Ans. The elder who suggested applying vinegar or lemon juice is correct. A wasp s ng
is basic (alkaline) in nature. Applying a weak acid like vinegar or lemon juice helps
neutralise the base, thereby reducing pain and irrita on. Baking soda, being a base,
would not be effec ve.

6. A factory releases acidic waste into a river. What effect might this have on the
environment? Suggest one preven ve step based on chemistry.

Ans. Releasing acidic waste into a river can harm aqua c life, damage ecosystems and
make the water unsafe for use. It can lower the pH of water, affec ng fish and other
organisms.

Preven ve step- The factory should neutralise the acidic waste with a base before
releasing it into the river to reduce its harmful effects.

 Extended Inves ga on — Comprehensive Analysis

1. Acids are helpful in many areas like cooking, cleaning and industry. But strong
acids can also be harmful. Explore and explain the ‘dark side of acids’. Support your
answer with examples.

Ans. While acids are useful, strong acids can be highly corrosive and harmful.

 They can burn skin and damage ssues (e.g., sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid).
 Acid rain (formed by sulphuric and nitric acids) can damage monuments, soil
and aqua c life.
 Industrial acids, if released untreated, can pollute water bodies and harm
ecosystems.

2. How is litmus obtained? In what form is litmus available for use? Men on the
advantages of using litmus over phenolphthalein for acid-base iden fica on.

Ans. Litmus is obtained from a natural dye extracted from lichens. It is available in the
form of litmus solu on and litmus paper (red and blue).

Advantages over phenolphthalein

 Litmus can iden fy both acids and bases, whereas phenolphthalein mainly
detects bases.
  It is easy to use and widely available in paper form.
 It gives a quick and clear colour change.

3. Rhea’s mother planted seeds of pink hydrangea flowers, but when they bloomed,
the flowers turned out blue. She was confused because she expected pink flowers.

a. How can the same plant produce flowers of different colours?

Ans. Hydrangea flowers are natural indicators that change colour depending on the
pH of the soil in which they grow. In acidic soil, hydrangea flowers turn blue, while in
basic soil, they turn pink.

b. What can Rhea’s mother do to get pink flowers from the same plant in the next
blooming season?

Ans. To get pink flowers, Rhea’s mother needs to make the soil less acidic and more
basic. She can do this by adding lime (calcium hydroxide) to the soil.

4. i. Define neutralisa on reac on.

Ans. A neutralisa on reac on is a chemical reac on in which an acid reacts with a

base to form salt and water.

ii. ‘All neutralisa on reac ons are exothermic, but all exothermic reac ons are not
neutralisa on reac ons’ – Jus fy the statement.

Ans. All neutralisa on reac ons are exothermic because heat is released when acids
and bases react. However, not all exothermic reac ons are neutralisa on reac ons
because heat can also be released in other reac ons, such as combus on, which do
not involve acids and bases.

5. Sanjana and her parents were invited to a wedding recep on. A er enjoying a
great evening and some tasty food, when they returned home, her father started
complaining of burning sensa on in his belly and chest and a sour taste in his
mouth.

i. What problem is causing discomfort to Sanjana’s father?

Ans. Sanjana’s father is suffering from acidity (indiges on).

ii. What could be the possible reason for this condi on?

Ans. It may be caused by excess secre on of acid in the stomach, o en due to

overea ng or consuming spicy/oily food.

iii. Which common medicine can be used to relieve this condi on?
Ans. A common medicine used is an antacid (e.g., milk of magnesia).

iv. Briefly describe how the medicine works to provide relief to Sanjana’s father.

Ans. Antacids are basic substances that neutralise excess stomach acid. This reduces
irrita on and provides relief from burning sensa on and discomfort.

 Visual Learning — Picture-Based Problems

1. Study the picture carefully (China rose / Hibiscus) and answer the ques ons that
follow.

a. Iden fy the flower.

Ans. The flower is China rose (Hibiscus).

b. How do you prepare an extract from this flower to use it as an acid-base

indicator?

Ans. The extract is prepared by crushing or soaking the petals in warm water to
obtain a coloured solu on, which can be used as a natural indicator.

c. What will be the colour of the flower’s extract if we add tomato juice to it?

Ans. Tomato juice is acidic, so the extract will turn dark pink/red.

2. Carefully observe the picture of an ant and answer the following ques ons.

a. What is being shown in the picture?

Ans. The picture shows an ant.

b. What is the chemical nature of the venom of this insect?

Ans. The venom of an ant is acidic in nature (contains formic acid).

c. Name one household item that can be used to relieve the pain caused by its
s ng.

Ans. A household item such as baking soda can be used to relieve the pain.

3. Observe the given picture of a child with a dental cavity and answer the
ques ons that follow.

a. Name the condi on this kid is suffering from.

Ans. The child is suffering from tooth decay (cavi es).

b. What could be the reason for this?

Ans. This may be due to acid forma on by bacteria in the mouth, o en caused by
poor oral hygiene or sugary food.

c. Which component of toothpaste can help cure this problem?

Ans. The basic (alkaline) substances in toothpaste (such as calcium carbonate) help
neutralise acids and cure this problem.

 Real-World Applica on — Prac cal Scenarios

1. Durga has a small garden at home, and she no ces that her plants are not
growing well. She researched online that chemical nature of soil can affect plant
growth, so she decides to test it. Her friend gives her red and blue litmus paper,
vinegar and a small amount of quick lime to experiment with. If the soil is acidic,
what colour change should Durga expect in blue litmus paper?

a. Blue litmus paper would stay blue. b. Blue litmus paper would turn green.

c. blue litmus paper would turn red. d. Blue litmus paper would turn yellow.

Ans. c. Blue litmus paper would turn red.

2. Raj is preparing for his school’s annual science fair and wants to demonstrate
something exci ng. He decides to demonstrate the effects of acid and base
reac ons by making a homemade ‘volcano.’ He uses vinegar and baking soda for
the experiment. When he combines them, the mixture bubbles and fizzes, crea ng
a lot of foam that spills out of his model volcano. Raj’s friend Anita wants to test
lemon juice instead of vinegar. How would you expect lemon juice to react with
baking soda compared to vinegar?

a. It would not react because lemon juice is not an acid.

b. It would not react as strongly because lemon juice is neutral.

c. It would react similarly because both are acids that react with baking soda.

d. It would react more strongly because lemon juice has no water.

Ans. c. It would react similarly because both are acids that react with baking soda.

 Skill Development — Apply What you Learned

Data Interpreta on

Pg no. 20

Based on the table above, answer the following ques ons.

a. Which substances are acidic in nature?

Ans. The substances that are acidic in nature are lemon juice and vinegar.

b. Which substances are basic in nature?

Ans. The substances that are basic in nature are baking soda and soap solu on.

 Connected Learning — Cross-Subject Integra on

1. Our bodies need some amount of salt (sodium chloride) to stay healthy. We get
majority of our required salt from our daily food. However, excess intake of salt can
also cause problems for our body. How does salt help in our body?

a. It helps build strong bones.

b. It helps maintain water balance in the body.

c. It provides energy for the body to func on.

d. It directly helps in the diges on of food.

Ans b. It helps maintain water balance in the body.

Crossword Puzzle
 Across

2. Bases

3. Alkali

 Down

1. Yellow

3. Acid

4. Salt