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b) Very active metals like potassium, sodium and calcium also react similarly, b
ut tend to explode when combining with acids.
c) Nitric acid (of various concentrations) usually exhibits oxidizing property,
rather than acidic properties. Metals such as magnesium combine with extremely d
ilute (1%) nitric acid to liberate hydrogen.
How do Metal Carbonates and Metal Hydrogen Carbonates React with Acids?
Acids react with carbonates and hydrogen carbonates (bicarbonates) to form their
respective salt, water and carbon dioxide.
Carbonate/Bicarbonate + Acid Salt + Water + Carbon dioxide
The separation of H+ ion from HCl molecules cannot occur in the absence of water
. Thus hydrogen ions must always be shown as H+(aq) or (H3O+).
A base is a substance, which on dissolving in water yields hydroxyl ions (OH-) a
s the only negative ions. A base may be an oxide or a hydroxide of a metal. If a
base is soluble in water, it dissociates to form a metal ion and the only negat
ive hydroxyl ion (OH-).
A base that is soluble in water is called an alkali. For example, when sodium hy
droxide is dissolved in water it readily disassociates to produce a lot of hydro
xide ions. Sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide and ammonium
hydroxide are the common alkalis.
Always add acid to water and never the other way! The acid must be added slowly
to water with constant stirring. If one mixes the other way by adding water to a
concentrated acid, the heat generated causes the mixture to splash out and caus
e burns. The glass container may also break due to excessive local heating and c
ause damages! Mixing an acid or base with water results in dilution. It decrease
s the concentration of ions (H3O+/OH-) per unit volume thereby dissipating the h
eat effect easily.
How Strong are Acid or Base Solutions?
The strength of an acid depends on the concentration of the hydronium ions (H3O+
) present in a solution. We know that greater the number of hydronium ions prese
nt, greater is the strength of acid. However, some acids do not dissociate to an
y appreciable extent in water such as carbonic acid. Therefore, these acids will
have a low concentration of hydronium ions.
Examples of strong acids are: hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid, nitric acid etc
.
Weak Acid An acid that dissociates only partially when dissolved in water, i
s classified as a weak acid. Most of the molecules remain in solution in molecul
ar form itself in such acid.
Examples are: acetic acid, formic acid, carbonic acid etc.
OR
Strong Base The strength of a base depends on the concentration of the hydro
xyl ions when it is dissolved in water. A base that dissociates completely or al
most completely in water is classified as a strong base. The greater the number
of hydroxyl ions the base produces, the stronger is the base.
Example:
Weak Base
A base that dissociates in water only partially is known as a weak base.
Example:
The pH Scale
The concentration of hydronium ions in a solution can be expressed as moles of h
ydronium ions per litre of solution. This is expressed by a term called 'pH' whi
ch represents the 'power of hydrogen ion concentration' in solution. The pH valu
e is defined as: 'the negative logarithm (to the base 10) of the hydrogen ion co
ncentration, expressed in moles per liter'; i.e.,
pH = - log10[H+] Where, [H+] is the hydrogen ion concentration in molecule
/Liter
Pure water and other neutral solutions have a pH value of 7. A pH value less tha
n 7 indicates that the solution is acidic, and a pH value greater than 7 indicat
es that the solution is basic.
Everday use of the pH scale
The stomach produces hydrochloric acid that helps in the digestion of food. Unde
r normal conditions this acid does not harm the stomach. During indigestion the
stomach produces too much acid causing pain and irritation. The pain due to exce
ss acid can be got over by neutralizing it with a base. A base like magnesium hy
droxide (Milk of magnesia), a mild base, is often used for this purpose. These a
re also called antacids - substances neutralizing the excess acid.
Similarly bee-sting or ant sting and the stinging hair of nettle leaves produce
an acid called methanoic acid which causes burning pain and irritation. Use of a
mild base like baking soda on the stung area gives relief.
Tooth enamel is made up of calcium phosphate the hardest substance in the body a
nd does not dissolve in water. However it begins to corrode when the pH in the m
outh is below 5.5.
About Salts
Generally, salts are obtained by treating an acid with a base. Salts consist of
both positive ions or 'cations', and negative ions or 'anions'. The cations are
called basic radicals and are mostly obtained from metallic ions (ammonium ion b
eing one exception), while the anions are called acidic radicals and are obtaine
d from acids.
Salt is a compound, which on dissociation in water yields positive ions other th
an a hydrogen ion or hydronium ion, and a negative ion other than hydroxyl ion.