What is an acid?

Acids & Bases

▪ An acid is a solution that has an
They are everywhere.. excess of H+ ions. It comes from the
In your food
Latin word acidus that means "sharp"
In your house
EVEN IN YOU!!!!! or "sour".
▪ The more H + ions, the more acidic
the solution.

Properties of an Acid Uses of Acids

▪ Acetic Acid = Vinegar
▪ Citric Acid = lemons,
▪ Tastes Sour limes, & oranges. It is in
▪ Conduct Electricity many sour candies such
▪ Corrosive, which means
as lemonhead & sour
they break down certain patch.
substances. Many acids can ▪ Ascorbic acid = Vitamin
corrode fabric, skin,and C which your body needs
paper to function.
▪ Some acids react strongly ▪ Sulfuric acid is used in
with metals the production of
▪ Turns blue litmus paper red fertilizers, steel, paints,
and plastics.
Picture from BBC Revision Bites
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks3bitesize/science/chemistry/acids_b
▪ Car batteries
ases_1.shtml

What is a base? Properties of a Base

▪ A base is a solution that ▪ Feel Slippery

has an excess of OH- ▪ Taste Bitter
ions. ▪ Corrosive
▪ Can conduct electricity.
▪ Bases are
(Think alkaline
substances that can batteries.)
accept hydrogen ions ▪ Do not react with metals.
▪ Turns red litmus paper
blue.

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 Uses of Bases pH Scale
▪ Bases give soaps,
ammonia, and many ▪ pH is a measure of how acidic or
other cleaning products basic a solution is.
some of their useful
• The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14.
properties.
▪ The OH- ions interact ▪ Acidic solutions have pH values
strongly with certain below 7
substances, such as dirt ▪ A solution with a pH of 0 is very
and grease. acidic.
▪ Chalk and oven cleaner
▪ A solution with a pH of 7 is neutral.
are examples of familiar
products that contain • Pure water has a pH of 7.
bases. • Basic solutions have pH values
▪ Your blood is a basic above 7.
solution.

pH Scale
• A change of 1 pH unit represents a tenfold Acid – Base Reactions
change in the acidity of the solution.
• For example, if one solution has a pH of 1 and ▪ A reaction between an
acid and a base is
a second solution has a pH of 2, the first called neutralization.
solution is not twice as acidic as the second— An acid-base mixture
is not as acidic or
it is ten times more acidic. basic as the individual
starting solutions.

Acid – Base reactions Indicator

▪ Indicators are
substances that
▪ Each salt listed in this change color when
table can be formed by
the reaction between an
they are added to
acid and a base. acidic or alkaline
solutions.
▪ Litmus,
phenolphthalein, and
methyl orange are
all indicators that are
commonly used in
the laboratory.

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What are strong acids and bases? What are weak acids and bases?

▪ Strong acids and bases dissociate completely

▪ Weak acids and bases are much less than
in water. An example is HCl and NaOH.
100% ionized in water.
HCl + H2O → H+ + Cl-
▪ An example of a weak acid is acetic acid.
NaOH -> Na+ + OH-
▪ An example of a weak base is ammonia.