ChemistryCode 5070
The characteristic properties of acids and bases
What this topic asks you to be able to do
- State that acids in aqueous solution contain H+ ions, and alkalis in aqueous solution contain OH– ions
- Define an acid as a proton donor and a base as a proton acceptor
- State that a base is a metal's oxide or hydroxide, and that alkalis are bases which are soluble
- Describe, as the characteristic properties of acids, the way they react with: (a) metals (b) bases (c) carbonates
- Describe, as the characteristic properties of bases, the way they react with: (a) acids (b) ammonium salts
- State that when an acid reacts with a base, neutralisation takes place
- Outline the neutralisation of an acid by an alkali, forming water: H+(aq) + OH−(aq) → H2O(l)
- Outline what acids and alkalis do to (a) litmus, (b) thymolphthalein, (c) methyl orange
- Define strong and weak acids: in aqueous solution, a strong acid is completely dissociated, whereas a weak acid is partially dissociated
- Name some strong acids, including hydrochloric acid, nitric acid and sulfuric acid, and construct symbol equations showing that each one dissociates completely, e.g. HCl(aq) → H+(aq) + Cl–(aq)
- Name some weak acids, including carboxylic acids, and construct symbol equations showing that each one is partially dissociated, e.g. for ethanoic acid, CH3COOH(aq) ⇌ H+(aq) + CH3COO–(aq)
- Describe how universal indicator paper, through its colour and the pH it shows, lets you compare hydrogen ion concentration, neutrality, relative acidity and relative alkalinity