Acids and Bases

Introduction to acids and bases

Among acids and bases, acids are the chemicals that turns blue litmus to red. Moreover, acids are sour to taste. For example, lemon juice. Bases are the chemicals that turns red litmus into blue. Bases are bitter to taste, for example baking soda. When acids and bases reacts with each other they nullify each others effect and forms salt as well as water. To identify whether the substance is acidic or basic we make use of indicators. Indicators are the chemical substance used to identify nature of solution.

Acids and bases

Acids and Bases

Identification of acids and bases

As discussed, indicators are chemical substances that changes in color or odour when exposed to acids and bases. Some of indicators are Litmus solution, Phenolphthalein, Methyl orange, Onion juice, vanilla.

  • Litmus solution test: In acidic solution like hydrochloric acid(HCl), sulphuric acid(H2SO4) blue litmus solution turns to red, whereas red litmus solution do not change its color. In case of basic solution, Sodium hydroxide (NaOH), Calcium Hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) red litmus solution changes to blue whereas, blue litmus solution do not show color change.
  • Phenolphthalein solution test: Phenolphthalein solution remain colorless in case of acidic solution, whereas, in case of basic solution it changes its color to pink.
  • Methyl orange test: in case of acidic solution methyl orange changes its color to red whereas, for basic solution it changes its color to yellow.
  • Onion juice: Onion juice in acids do not lose its smell whereas in case of base it lose its smell
  • Vanilla: in acids smell of vanilla remains as it is, but in case of base vanilla loses its smell



Common properties of all acids and bases

  • Electrical Conduction: All acids and bases have free ions H+ and OH- ions respectively which allows conduction of electricity through the solution.
  • Dissolution of acids and bases in water: Acids when mixed with water produces hydrogen ion shown as H+(aq) or H3O+. Reaction can be given as
    HCl + H2O ⟶ H+(aq) + Cl-
    When bases are dissolved in water they produce OH- ions. The reaction can be given as
    NaOH + H2O ⟶ Na+(aq)+OH-(aq)
    All bases are not soluble in water. Bases which are soluble in water are called alkalies. Moreover, alkalies are soapy to touch, bitter to taste and are corrosive in nature.

Dilution

Dilution is process of mixing of acids or bases in water in order to decrease the concentration of ions per unit volume. It is an exothermic process in which heat is released.

Keywords: Acid, Base, Dilution, Concentration, Ion, Phenolphthalein, Methyl orange, Litmus, Alkalies.

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