Acids and Alkalis Notes
Acids and Alkalis Notes
Acids and Alkalis Notes
1 of 20
34 © Boardworks Ltd 2004
Contents
Neutralization
Summary activities
1
2 of 20
34 © Boardworks Ltd 2004
What is an acid?
Acids are a group of chemicals that donate a proton
in a reaction.
What do you know about acids? Are all acids
dangerous?
1
3 of 20
34 © Boardworks Ltd 2004
What is an acid?
1
4 of 20
34 © Boardworks Ltd 2004
What are acids?
Acids are
substances that:
Have a pH
below 7 and
turn universal
indicator yellow,
orange or red.
1
5 of 20
34 © Boardworks Ltd 2004
Properties of acids
• An acid is a substance that releases
hydrogen ions (H+) into an aqueous (water)
solution.
• are corrosive.
• have a sour taste
• turn blue litmus paper red
• react with some metals, releasing hydrogen
gas and leaving a salt behind
• conduct electricity
• are neutralized by bases, producing water
and a salt.
1
6 of 20
34 © Boardworks Ltd 2004
What is a strong acid?
Some acids, like those found in the laboratory or a
car battery, dissolve completely in solution. They
are very dangerous (too dangerous to taste or
touch).
1
9 of 20
34 © Boardworks Ltd 2004
What is an alkali?
Alkalis, or bases, are another group of chemicals,
the opposite of acids.
1
10ofof20
34 © Boardworks Ltd 2004
Properties of Bases
• A base is a substance that releases
hydroxide ions (OH–) in an aqueous
solution.
• are caustic
• have a soapy, slimy feel
• turn red litmus paper blue
• have a bitter taste
• conduct electricity
• are neutralized by acids, producing
water and a salt.
1
11ofof20
34 © Boardworks Ltd 2004
What is a strong alkali?
Some alkalis, like those in the laboratory or in
cleaning materials such as toilet cleaner, dissolve
completely in solution and are too dangerous to
touch.
Neutralization
Summary activities
1
14ofof20
34 © Boardworks Ltd 2004
What is an indicator?
How can you test a liquid to find if it is an acid or an
alkali?
An indicator is a special chemical that changes
to a different color in an acid or an alkali.
Litmus paper and litmus solution
are examples of indicators.
Litmus is Litmus is
red in acid. blue in alkali.
1
15ofof20
34 © Boardworks Ltd 2004
Litmus test experiment
1
16ofof20
34 © Boardworks Ltd 2004
What is universal indicator?
Litmus is used to show if a solution is acid or alkali.
Litmus does not show if the acid or alkali is weak or
strong.
Universal indicator has a range of colors that show
how weak or strong the acid or alkali is.
stronger acid stronger alkali
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
strong weak weak strong
acid acid neutral alkali alkali
What is the pH of a weak acid?
What is the pH of strong alkali?
1
18ofof20
34 © Boardworks Ltd 2004
What is the pH?
1
19ofof20
34 © Boardworks Ltd 2004
What type of substance?
Are these substances acidic or alkaline?
Are they weak or strong?
Substance pH Description of acid/alkali
soda water 6 very weak acid
car battery acid 1 very strong acid
soap 8 very weak alkali
washing soda 10 weak alkali
stomach acid 2 strong acid
oven cleaner 14 very strong alkali
vinegar 4 weak acid
acid 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 alkali
1
20ofof20
34 © Boardworks Ltd 2004
Contents
Neutralization
Summary activities
1
21ofof20
34 © Boardworks Ltd 2004
Mixing an acid and an alkali
What happens when an acid and an alkali are
mixed?
?
Mixing an acid and an alkali causes a chemical
change.
This chemical change is called a chemical reaction.
How do you know this chemical reaction has taken
place?
1
22ofof20
34 © Boardworks Ltd 2004
What is neutralization?
The chemical reaction between an acid and an
alkali is called neutralization.
1
24ofof20
34 © Boardworks Ltd 2004
Neutralization and indigestion
1
25ofof20
34 © Boardworks Ltd 2004
Neutralizing stings
A bee sting A wasp sting
is acidic. is alkaline.
1
26ofof20
34 © Boardworks Ltd 2004
Neutralizing soil
Soils in different places
can be acidic, alkaline or
neutral.
Many plants do not grow
well in acidic soil.
Why do farmers test
soil to check the pH?
Farmers often add an alkali to acidic soil to make
their plants grow better.
How does the alkali help to treat the acidic
soil?
1
27ofof20
34 © Boardworks Ltd 2004
Neutralizing acid rain
Gases emitted by cars, power
stations and factories mix with
rainwater in the atmosphere.
This rainwater has a pH <5.5.
Why is it called acid rain?
Acid rain can have a
harmful effect on the
environment killing trees,
polluting lakes and
damaging buildings.
How can the effects of
acid rain be prevented?
1
28ofof20
34 © Boardworks Ltd 2004
Contents
Neutralization
Summary activities
1
29ofof20
34 © Boardworks Ltd 2004
Glossary
acid – A chemical that has a pH less than 7.
alkali – A chemical that has a pH greater than 7 and
dissolves in water.
indicator – A special chemical that changes into different
colours in acid and alkali solutions.
neutral – A chemical with a pH of 7 that is not an acid or
an alkali.
neutralization – The chemical reaction between an acid
and an alkali.
pH scale – The range of values that shows how strong or
weak an acid or alkali is.
universal indicator – The indicator that shows the pH
value of a chemical.
1
30ofof20
34 © Boardworks Ltd 2004
Anagrams
1
31ofof20
34 © Boardworks Ltd 2004
Word search
1
32ofof20
34 © Boardworks Ltd 2004
Facts about acids
1
34ofof20
34 © Boardworks Ltd 2004
Multiple-choice quiz
1
35ofof20
34 © Boardworks Ltd 2004
Guided Notes
Guided Notes for Acids and Alkalis
What is an acid?
Acids are substances that have a pH ____________ 7 and turn universal indicator
yellow, orange or _________.
Properties of Acids
• An acid is a substance that releases ____________ ions (H+) into an ____________ (water) solution.
• are ____________.
• react with some ____________, releasing ____________ gas and leaving a ____________ behind
• ____________ electricity
These acids are said to be ________________________ as they can damage other materials by eating them away!
Many acids are found in household items such as food, drink and _________________ /skincare products.
These acids do ____________ dissolve completely in solution and are known as ____________ acids.
What is an alkali?
• are ________________________
• ________________________electricity
1
36ofof20
34 © Boardworks Ltd 2004