Karachi Public School

Chemistry Grade X
Notes
Chapter: 2 Acids, bases and salts:
Q1. What are acids: An acid is a molecule or ion capable of either donating a
proton. It changes the color of blue litmus paper red and having pH 0 – 6.
Q2. What are bases: A substance which dissociates in aqueous solution to form
hydroxide ions OH−. It changes the color of red litmus paper blue and having
pH 8 – 14
Q3. Explain the differentiate between acid and base:
Acid Base
Acidic in nature Basic in nature
The concentration of H+ ion is The concentration of OH– ion is
high high
Taste sour Taste bitter
Are red on blue litmus paper Are blue on red litmus paper
Have pH<7 Have pH>7
Common examples: Lemons, Common examples: Soap,
oranges, vinegar, urine, toothpaste, bleach, cleaning
Sulphuric acid, hydrochloric agents, limewater, ammonia,
acid water, sodium hydroxide
Q4. Write the properties of acids:
i. Acids produce [H+] ion in solution.
ii. Acids have sour taste.
iii. Acids conduct electric current.
iv. Acids make blue litmus paper turns red.
v. Acids destroy the chemical properties of bases.
vi. Acids produce hydrogen gas [H2] reacting with an active metal.
Q5. Write the properties of bases:
i. Bases produce [OH-] ion in a solution.
ii. Bases have bitter taste.
iii. Bases conduct electric current.
iv. Bases make red litmus paper turns blue.
v. Bases destroy the chemical properties of acids.
vi. Bases feel slippery or soapy.
Q6. Explain briefly the concept of acids and bases:
o Arrhenius theory:
Introduction: The Arrhenius theory was first introduced by the Swedish
scientist Svante Arrhenius in the year 1880.
Statement: According to Arrhenius theory, acid is a substance that gives
H+ ions on dissolving in the aqueous solution. It increases the concentration
of H+ ions in the solution. The base is a substance that ionizes OH– ion by
dissolving in the aqueous solution. The concentration of OH- ions is high in
the solution.
Properties of acids: Properties of acids are due to presence of hydrogen ion
(H+)
HCl  H+ + Cl-
 HNO3  H+ + NO3-
Properties of bases: Properties of bases are due to presence of hydroxide ion
(OH-)
NaOH  Na+ + OH-
Ca(OH)2  Ca2+ + 2OH-
Example:
Acid: HCl ⇌ H+ + Cl –
HNO3 ⇌ H+ + NO3-1
Base: NaOH ⇌ Na+ + OH-
KOH ⇌ K+ + OH-
Limitations:
 Hydrogen ions do not exist in water solution and they react with water to
form hydronium ions (H3O+).
 The Arrhenius theory does not explain the basicity of ammonia (NH3), acidity
of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other similar compounds.
 It is only applicable in aqueous solutions.
o Bronsted – Lowry theory:
Introduction: The Bronsted-Lowry theory is an acid-base reaction theory,
introduced by Johannes Nicolaus Bronsted (Danish Chemist) and Thomas
Martin Lowry (English Chemist) in 1923.
Statements: “Acid is a substance which donates an H+ ion or a proton and
forms its conjugate base and the base is a substance which accepts an H+ ion
or a proton and forms its conjugate acid.”
Example:
Acid: HCl + H2O ⇌ H3O+ + CL-
Base: H2O + NH3 ⇌ NH4+ + OH-
Limitations:
 The Bronsted–Lowry concept cannot explain the reactions occurring in non-
protonic solvents such as COCl2, SO2, N2O4, etc.
 It cannot explain reactions of acid and basic oxides which can take place
even in the absence of solvents.
 Bronsted–Lowry theory fails to explain acidic properties of non-hydrogen
containing compounds such as BF3, AlCl3.
o Lewis theory:
Introduction: In 1923 G.N Lewis proposed an acid base theory that focuses
on reaction. This concept is more general than Arrhenius theory or Bronsted
– Lowry theory.
Statements: “An acid is a substance that is capable of accepting an electron
pair and base is a substance that is capable of donating an electron pair
donor.”
Example:

 In above equation, NH3 has a lone pair on N–atom. So, it is electron pair
donor. NH3 is a Lewis base.
 Boron in BF3 has incomplete octet. It has six electrons (3pairs of electron) so,
it need an electron pair to complete its octet. Hence BF3 is an electron pair
acceptor or Lewis acid.
Limitations:
 It could not explain the release of energy during the formation of a covalent
bond.
  It could not clarify the shape of molecules and the amount of energy released
during covalent bond formation.
 It could not explain the nature of attractive forces between the constituent
atoms of a molecule.
Q7. What id neutralization?
A chemical reaction in which an acid and base quantitatively react together
to form a salt and water as products. In a neutralization reaction, there is a
combination of H+ ions and OH– ions which form water. A neutralization
reaction is generally an acid-base neutralization reaction.
Q8. What is indicator and titration:

Indicator: Indicators are weak acids or weak bases that show a change in
colour as the concentration of hydrogen ion on a solution changes or the pH
of a solution changes. Example: Litmus, phenolphthalein, methyl orange.

Titration: Titration is a technique where a solution of known concentration is

used to determine the concentration of unknown solution. It is a volumetric
analysis.

Q9. Explain briefly the concept of pH and pOH:

Introduction: In 1909, the Danish chemist Soren Sorenson proposed a
convenient method to express such a small concentration of H+ ions and OH-
ions by pH and pOH.
pH: pH is defined as the negative logarithm of the molar concentration of H+
and OH – ions by pH or pOH.
pH = - log [H+]
pOH: pOH is defined as the negative logarithm of the molar concentration of
OH- ions in aqueous solution.
 pOH = - log [OH-]

Q10. What do you understand by the amphiprotic nature of water?

Liquid water, due to its highly polar structure, can either act as an acid (by
donating a proton to a base) or a base (by using a lone pair of electrons to
accept a proton). This is the amphiprotic nature of water.
Q11. What is the relationship between pH, pOH, and pKw?
The relationship between pH, pOH, and pKw is:
pKw = pH + pOH = 14
Q12. What is Ionization of water?
Water is a weak electrolyte. “The ionic product of water is the product of the
concentrations of H+ and OH ions in water at a given temperature.” The
letter K is assigned for it.
[OH-]=[H+] = 1x10-7 M

We can write equilibrium constant expression for ionization of water as follow:

H2O ⇌ H+ + OH-

Hydrogen ion hydroxide ion

[H+ ][OH− ]
KC =
[H2 O]
Kc [H2O] = [H+][OH-] ∴ Kw = Kc [H2O]
Kw = [H+][OH-]
Where Kw = Kc [H2O] is called ionization constant for water. It is also called the
ion product for water.
Kw = [1x 10-7[1x10-7]
Kw = 1x10-14 at 25°C
For pure water at 25°C
[H+] = 1x10-7 M
 [OH-] = 1x10-7 M
pH = -log (1x10-7)
= (-7)(-log 10)
= (-7)(-1)
=7

pH of water is 7. All aqueous solution with pH = 7 at 25°C are neutral. If pH

is less than 7, the solution become acidic, [H+] increase and [OH-] decreases.

Q13. What is pH scale?

Its a number scale from 0 to 14 which describe the concentration of H+ ions
in a solution. It is known as pH scale.
i. A pH of 7 indicates a neutral solution
ii. Acids have pH less than 7
iii. Bases have pH greater than 7
Q14. What are Salts?
An acid contains replaceable hydrogen atoms. When these ions are
completely or partially replaced by metals, a compound called salt.
HCl  NaCl

Replaceable H atom metal atom has replaced H atom

Q15. Write down properties of salts:

i. Salt are ionic compound.
ii. The first part of the name is of the metal ion and second part of the name is
of the negative part of the acid.
Q16. Explain the preparations of salts.

Salts are produced by the action of acids on metals, metal oxides, metal
hydroxide, metal carbonates and metal bicarbonates.
 CaO + H2SO4  CaSO4 + H2O

(calcium oxide) (calcium sulphate)

KOH + HNO3  KNO3 + H2O

(Potassium oxide) (Potassium nitrate)

BaCO3 + 2HCl  BaCl2 + CO2 + H2O

(Barium carbonate) (Barium chloride)

Q17. How many types of salts? Explain them.

There are three types of salt:

i. Acidic salt: Those salts which are distinctly acidic in nature and produce
acidic solutions when dissolved in water. They have less than 7 pH. Ex:
NH4Cl, NaHSO4 etc.
ii. Basic salt: Those salts which are distinctly basic in nature and produce
alkaline solutions when dissolved in water. They have more than 7 pH. Ex:
CH3COONa, KCN, Na2CO3 etc.
iii. Neutral salt: Those salts which are formed by complete neutralization of a
strong base and strong acid. They have neutral with 7 pH. Ex: NaCl, K2SO4
etc.
Q18. Explain the uses of salts.
The following are some uses of salts:
a. Most of the chemical fertilizers used in agriculture are salts.
b. Salts are used as pesticides to kill or destroyed insects.
c. In medical field salts are found in plaster of Paris for supporting broken
bones.
d. Potassium permanganate can kill bacteria and use as a disinfectant.
 e. Barium salt helps to make internal soft organs appears on X ray films.
f. Sodium hydrogen carbonate is an anti-acid which neutralize the excess acid
secreted by stomach.
Q19. Explain briefly the Buffer solution.
A solution which resist any change in pH on addition of small amount of
acid or base.
o Composition:
Weak acid + salt (conjugate base) = Acidic solution
CH3COOH + CH3COONa (buffer)

Weak base + salt (conjugate acid) = Basic solution

NH3 + NH3Cl (buffer)

o Types: There are two types of buffer:
Acidic buffer: They are made from a weak acid and its salt.
CH3COOH – CH3COONa
CH3COOH – weak
CH3COONa
Basic buffer: It is the solution of a mixture of weak base and a salt of this
weak base with a strong acid.
NH4OH + NH4Cl or NH4OH + NH4NO3
Buffer action: The property of a buffer solution to resist any change in its pH
value even when small amount of the acid or the base are added to it is
called buffer action.
o Uses: The uses of buffer solution are for both in lab and our daily life:
 It is necessary for most enzymes to function efficiently and correctly.
 It is important for ensuring proper color concentration when using dyes.
 It is required for calibrating equipment.
  It is used for preparation of acetic acid, citric acid, ammonia etc.
 It is used in industrial process like ink, drugs, dyes etc.
 It is used in agriculture, dairy product and preservation of various types
of food and fruits.
 It is used to determine the pH with the help of indicators.
 Society, Technology and science:
o pH dependent food: The food is acidic, alkaline and neutral such as meat,
fish, dairy product, eggs and gains are acidic. The pH acidic food is 0 to 7
while the neutral food has exact pH 7 and food is from pH 7 to 14. A healthy
human body required a controlled pH level in the serum up to 7.4, which is
slightly alkaline.
o Harmful effects of acid rain: It affects both animals and human respiratory
systems. Acids rain has an impact on the aquatic ecology when it falls and
runs into rivers and ponds. It creates water pollution by changing the
chemical composition of the water to a state that is damaging to the aquatic
ecosystems. Acid rain also causes water pipelines to corrode, resulting in
heavy metals such as iron, Lead and copper seeping into drinking water. It
causes damage to stone and metals structures and monuments.
o Stomach acidity: Stomach acid, also known as gastric acid, is a colorless,
watery fluid generated by the lining of the stomach. It’s very acidic and aids
digestion by breaking down meats. This is makes it easier for our body to
absorb nutrients when food passes through our digestive tract. Laying on our
back or bending down at the waist after eating a large meat, snacking right
before night, consuming citrus, tomato, chocolate, mint etc. consuming
alcoholic beverages, carbonated beverage, coffee, tea etc. are the causes of
stomach acidity.