1. What is an acid?

Answer:
An acid is a substance that releases hydrogen ions (H⁺) when dissolved in water. It has a sour taste and turns blue
litmus paper red. Example: Hydrochloric acid (HCl).

2. What is a base?
Answer:
A base is a substance that releases hydroxide ions (OH⁻) when dissolved in water. It has a bitter taste and turns
red litmus paper blue. Example: Sodium hydroxide (NaOH).

3. What is a salt?
Answer:
A salt is an ionic compound formed by the neutralization reaction between an acid and a base. Example: Sodium
chloride (NaCl).

4. What is the pH scale?

Answer:
The pH scale measures the acidity or basicity of a solution. It ranges from 0 to 14:
• pH < 7: Acidic
• pH = 7: Neutral
• pH > 7: Basic

5. What is a neutralization reaction?

Answer:
A neutralization reaction is the reaction between an acid and a base, resulting in the formation of a salt and water.
Example:
HCl + NaOH → NaCl + H₂O

6. What is an indicator?
Answer:
An indicator is a substance that changes color depending on the pH of the solution. Examples include litmus paper,
phenolphthalein, and methyl orange.

7. What is the use of litmus paper?

Answer:
Litmus paper is used to test the pH of a solution. It turns red in acidic solutions and blue in basic solutions.

8. What are the properties of acids?

Answer:
• Acids taste sour.
• They turn blue litmus paper red.
• They react with metals to release hydrogen gas.
• They react with bases to form salts and water.

9. What are the properties of bases?

Answer:
• Bases taste bitter and feel slippery.
• They turn red litmus paper blue.
• They react with acids to form salts and water.
• They are good conductors of electricity in aqueous solutions.

10. Give an example of an acid and a base reacting to form a salt.

Answer:
• Acid: Hydrochloric acid (HCl)
 • Base: Sodium hydroxide (NaOH)
Reaction: HCl + NaOH → NaCl + H₂O

11. What is the pH of pure water?

Answer:
The pH of pure water is 7, which is neutral.

12. What is the use of sulfuric acid?

Answer:
Sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) is used in the manufacture of fertilizers, detergents, batteries, and in refining petroleum.

13. What happens when an acid reacts with a metal?

Answer:
When an acid reacts with a metal, it produces a salt and hydrogen gas. Example:
Zinc + Hydrochloric acid → Zinc chloride + Hydrogen gas.

14. What is an example of a basic solution?

Answer:
An example of a basic solution is sodium hydroxide (NaOH), commonly known as caustic soda.

15. What are acidic oxides?

Answer:
Acidic oxides are oxides that react with water to form acids. Example: Carbon dioxide (CO₂) reacts with water to
form carbonic acid (H₂CO₃).

16. What is the role of bases in everyday life?

Answer:
Bases are used in soap-making, as cleaning agents (e.g., sodium hydroxide), and in the preparation of many
products like glass and paper.

17. What is the chemical formula of common table salt?

Answer:
The chemical formula of common table salt is NaCl (Sodium chloride).

18. What is the use of hydrochloric acid in the stomach?

Answer:
Hydrochloric acid (HCl) in the stomach helps in digestion by breaking down food and killing harmful bacteria.

19. How are salts classified?

Answer:
Salts are classified into:
• Normal salts: Formed by the complete neutralization of an acid by a base (e.g., NaCl).
• Acid salts: Formed by partial neutralization of an acid (e.g., NaHSO₄).
• Basic salts: Formed by partial neutralization of a base (e.g., Zn(OH)₂·2H₂O).

20. What is the formula of sulfuric acid?

Answer:
The chemical formula of sulfuric acid is H₂SO₄.
Here’s a list of differences between acids, bases, and salts for ICSE Class 10 Chemistry:
1. Definition
• Acids:
Acids are substances that release hydrogen ions (H⁺) when dissolved in water.
• Bases:
Bases are substances that release hydroxide ions (OH⁻) when dissolved in water.
• Salts:
Salts are ionic compounds formed by the neutralization reaction between an acid and a base.

2. Taste
• Acids:
Acids have a sour taste. Example: Vinegar (acetic acid).
• Bases:
Bases have a bitter taste and a slippery feel. Example: Soap (sodium hydroxide).
• Salts:
Salts generally have a salty taste. Example: Sodium chloride (NaCl).

3. Litmus Test
• Acids:
Acids turn blue litmus paper red.
• Bases:
Bases turn red litmus paper blue.
• Salts:
Salts do not affect the color of litmus paper; they are neutral unless dissolved in water to form acidic or
basic solutions.

4. pH Value
• Acids:
Acids have a pH value less than 7.
• Bases:
Bases have a pH value greater than 7.
• Salts:
Neutral salts have a pH value of 7, but some salts can form acidic or basic solutions depending on the
nature of the acid and base used.

5. Reaction with Water

• Acids:
Acids dissociate in water to release hydrogen ions (H⁺). Example: HCl → H⁺ + Cl⁻.
• Bases:
Bases dissociate in water to release hydroxide ions (OH⁻). Example: NaOH → Na⁺ + OH⁻.
• Salts:
Salts dissociate in water to form positive (cation) and negative (anion) ions. Example: NaCl → Na⁺ + Cl⁻.

6. Example Compounds
• Acids:
Examples include HCl (Hydrochloric acid), H₂SO₄ (Sulfuric acid), CH₃COOH (Acetic acid).
• Bases:
Examples include NaOH (Sodium hydroxide), KOH (Potassium hydroxide), Ca(OH)₂ (Calcium hydroxide).
• Salts:
Examples include NaCl (Sodium chloride), K₂SO₄ (Potassium sulfate), CaCO₃ (Calcium carbonate).

7. Effect on Metal
• Acids:
Acids react with metals to produce hydrogen gas. Example:
Zn + HCl → ZnCl₂ + H₂ ↑.
 • Bases:
Bases generally do not react with metals, except for some like aluminium. Example:
2Al + 2NaOH + 6H₂O → 2Na[Al(OH)₄] + 3H₂ ↑.
• Salts:
Salts do not react with metals in the same way as acids do.

8. Uses
• Acids:
Acids are used in batteries (e.g., sulfuric acid in lead-acid batteries), in the food industry (e.g., citric acid in
fruits), and for cleaning purposes (e.g., hydrochloric acid).
• Bases:
Bases are used in soap-making, cleaning products, and in neutralizing acids (e.g., antacids).
• Salts:
Salts are used in cooking (e.g., sodium chloride), in fertilizers (e.g., potassium nitrate), and in the
manufacturing of industrial products.

9. Conductivity
• Acids:
Acids are conductors of electricity in aqueous solutions because they release H⁺ ions.
• Bases:
Bases are conductors of electricity in aqueous solutions because they release OH⁻ ions.
• Salts:
Salts are conductors of electricity when dissolved in water because they dissociate into ions.

10. Example of a Chemical Reaction

• Acids:
Acids react with metals to produce salt and hydrogen gas:
Zn + 2HCl → ZnCl₂ + H₂ ↑.
• Bases:
Bases react with acids to form salt and water:
HCl + NaOH → NaCl + H₂O.
• Salts:
Salts can form by the neutralization of an acid and base, or through reactions with other compounds.
Example:
H₂SO₄ + 2NaOH → Na₂SO₄ + 2H₂O.

Summary
• Acids release H⁺ ions, have a sour taste, and turn blue litmus paper red.
• Bases release OH⁻ ions, have a bitter taste, and turn red litmus paper blue.
• Salts are formed by the neutralization of an acid and a base, and they are ionic compounds. Salts are
typically neutral, though some may form acidic or basic solutions.
1. Which of the following is an example of an a) 0-2
acid? b) 6-7
a) NaOH c) 7
b) HCl d) 12-14
c) NaCl Answer: a) 0-2
d) Ca(OH)₂
Answer: b) HCl 9. Which gas is released when an acid reacts with
a metal?
2. Which of the following is a property of bases? a) Oxygen
a) They turn blue litmus paper red. b) Nitrogen
b) They release H⁺ ions in water. c) Hydrogen
c) They have a bitter taste and slippery feel. d) Carbon dioxide
d) They react with metals to release hydrogen gas. Answer: c) Hydrogen
Answer: c) They have a bitter taste and slippery feel.
10. What is the color of phenolphthalein in a basic
3. What is the pH value of a neutral solution? solution?
a) 0 a) Red
b) 7 b) Blue
c) 14 c) Colorless
d) 5 d) Pink
Answer: b) 7 Answer: d) Pink

4. Which of the following turns red litmus paper 11. Which of the following acids is present in
blue? vinegar?
a) HCl a) Sulfuric acid
b) NaOH b) Hydrochloric acid
c) Acetic acid c) Acetic acid
d) H₂SO₄ d) Nitric acid
Answer: b) NaOH Answer: c) Acetic acid

5. Which of the following is a basic oxide? 12. Which of the following is used in the
a) CO₂ preparation of lime water?
b) SO₂ a) Calcium hydroxide
c) Na₂O b) Calcium carbonate
d) H₂O c) Calcium oxide
Answer: c) Na₂O d) Sodium hydroxide
Answer: a) Calcium hydroxide
6. What is formed when an acid reacts with a
base? 13. Which of the following is the strongest acid?
a) Water a) Hydrochloric acid (HCl)
b) Gas b) Sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄)
c) Salt c) Nitric acid (HNO₃)
d) Both a and c d) Acetic acid (CH₃COOH)
Answer: d) Both a and c Answer: b) Sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄)

7. Which of the following is an example of an 14. Which of the following salts is formed from a
acidic salt? strong acid and a weak base?
a) NaCl a) NaCl
b) NaHSO₄ b) NH₄Cl
c) Na₂SO₄ c) Na₂CO₃
d) Na₂CO₃ d) KNO₃
Answer: b) NaHSO₄ Answer: b) NH₄Cl

8. What is the pH of hydrochloric acid (HCl)? 15. What is the common name for sodium
bicarbonate?
a) Baking soda 18. Which of the following acids is used in car
b) Washing soda batteries?
c) Quick lime a) Hydrochloric acid
d) Chalk b) Sulfuric acid
Answer: a) Baking soda c) Nitric acid
d) Acetic acid
16. Which of the following is a product of the Answer: b) Sulfuric acid
neutralization of an acid and a base?
a) Water and a salt 19. Which of the following salts is commonly used
b) Water and a gas as a preservative?
c) Salt and a gas a) Sodium chloride
d) Gas and a base b) Sodium nitrate
Answer: a) Water and a salt c) Sodium bicarbonate
d) Potassium chloride
17. What is the chemical formula of sodium Answer: a) Sodium chloride
hydroxide?
a) NaOH 20. Which of the following is an example of a
b) Na₂OH neutral salt?
c) Na₂O a) Sodium chloride
d) Na₂CO₃ b) Ammonium chloride
Answer: a) NaOH c) Sodium acetate
d) Potassium carbonate
Answer: a) Sodium chloride

1. What is the difference between a strong acid and a weak acid? Provide examples.

2. Define an alkaline solution. How does it differ from an acidic solution in terms of pH?

3. How do acids react with metals? Write a general equation for the reaction.

4. What is the effect of an acid on blue litmus paper?

5. What is meant by a neutralization reaction? Write a balanced chemical equation for the neutralization of
hydrochloric acid with sodium hydroxide.

6. Write the chemical formula of the following salts:

• Sodium sulphate
• Potassium nitrate
• Calcium chloride

7. What are basic oxides? Give two examples of basic oxides.

8. Why do acids and bases have opposite effects on the pH scale?

9. What is the role of acids in the digestion process?

10. What is the chemical composition of common table salt? How is it formed?