Acids and Bases

Acids – compounds that ______

donate hydrogen
ions (H+) to form hydronium ions (H3O+) in
water.

Ex. HCl + H2O → H3O+ + Cl-

H+ + H2O → H3O+ (Hydronium ions are a

combination of water and hydrogen ions)

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Strong Acids – give off as many H+ ions as
possible (ionize completely)
Notice how all of the H+ ions split

Weak Acids – give off ___

few H+ ions
Notice how only some H+ ions split

Acid Properties:
Sour – ex. lemons
Burn – ex. HCl (Stomach acid)
Corrosive to metals
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 Common Acids
ACID FORMULA STRENGTH USES FOR DISSOLVED ACID

Hydrochloric HCl Strong Cleaning and food processing adjusting the pH of

acid swimming pools
(muriatic acid)

Sulfuric acid H2SO4 Strong Making fertilizers and other chemicals; fluid inside car
batteries

Nitric acid HNO3 Strong Making fertilizers and explosives

Acetic acid CH3COOH Weak Making vinegar; manufacturing chemicals, plastics, and
(ethanoic acid) medicines

Formic acid HCOOH Weak Dyeing textiles

Citric acid C6H8O7 Weak Preparing flavorings, candies, and soft drinks

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Bases – compounds that react with water to
produce ____________
hydroxide ions OH-. (Not all bases
contain hydroxide ions – ex. Ammonia NH3)

Ex. KOH K+ + OH-

Water is involved in the reaction, but does

not react with the ions in this case.

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Strong Bases – give off as many possible
OH- ions as possible (completely ionize)

Weak Bases – give off few OH- ions.

Properties of Bases:
Slimy / Slippery – ex. Cleaning products
Bitter – ex. Mustard
Corrosive to animal material (ex. Skin)

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 Common Bases
BASE FORMULA STRENGTH USES FOR DISSOLVED BASE

Potassium hydroxide KOH Strong Manufacturing soap and some drain cleaners;
(potash) bleaching

Sodium hydroxide (lye) NaOH Strong Manufacturing soap, paper, textiles, and some
drain cleaners

Calcium hydroxide (lime) Ca(OH)2 Strong Making plaster, cement, and mortar

Ammonia NH3 Weak Manufacturing fertilizers and many cleaners

Methylamine CH3NH2 Weak Manufacturing dyes and medicines

Pyridine C5H5N Weak Manufacturing vitamins and medicines

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Acids and Bases that are strong enough will
_______________.
conduct electricity (Electricity is the flow of
electrons. If charges are present, like OH-
and H3O+, electrons can flow).

Left: ______
Strong Base Right: _____
Weak Base
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pH Scale (powers of hydrogen)
 A measure of the hydronium ion (H3O+)
concentration in a solution (and indirectly
hydroxide, OH-, concentration).
strength of an acid or base.
 Measures the _______
 Range is 0 – 14__
 7 is neutral (not an acid nor a base)

acidic (lower is stronger)

 0 – 7 is _____
7 – 14 is basic (higher is stronger)
_____ 8
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 Indicators – a compound that can change
color in the presence of an acid or a base

Common Indicators:
Color in an Acid Color in a Base
Red Litmus Paper Red Blue
Blue Litmus Paper Red Blue
Phenolphthalein White Pink

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Neutralization Reaction – A reaction in which
hydrogen ions (H+) from an acid, react with
hydroxide ions (OH-) from a base to produce
water salt.
_____ molecules and a ____.

Example:

HCl + NaOH → ?

How will the ions rearrange?

H+ + Cl- + Na+ + OH-

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 H+ + Cl- + Na+ + OH-

HCl + NaOH → H 2O + NaCl

Hydrochloric + Sodium → Water + Salt
Acid Hydroxide

A pure salt water solution has a neutral

______ pH.

This is why people eat Tums. Tums is a

base, used to neutralize stomach acid.

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Neutralization Reactions only completely
neutralize if the amount and concentration of
the acid and base are equal.

Example: Will 5 mL of shampoo (pH 6)

neutralize 50 mL of ammonia (pH 13)?
No! The solution will only be slightly less
basic.

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Use the following words / phrases to answer
the following questions:
• Strong
• Weak
• A lot of
• A small amount of
1.To neutralize a strong acid, use ________
a lot of
weak base.
2.To neutralize a weak acid, use the same
amount of weak
____ base.

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1.To neutralize a weak acid, use a small
strong base.
amount of _____

2.To neutralize a strong

_____ base, add the same
amount of strong acid.

a lot of
3.To neutralize a strong base, add ________
weak acid.

4.To neutralize a weak base, add

a small amount of strong acid.
_______________
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