Year 7 Checkpoint 6.1 Acids and alkalis Mr.

Gilbert
Acids

Lemons, limes, and vinegar taste sour because they contain weak acids.

Strong acids can irritate your skin or eyes.

Concentrated acids such as :

hydrochloric acid HCl

Nitric acid HNO3

Sulfuric acid H2SO4

are very corrosive, they can attack metals and destroy skin if spilled.

This symbol shows that a chemical is corrosive. Do not let it get in to your eye or come into
contact with your skin.

Acids have a pH of less than 7.

Acids changes the colour of blue litmus paper to RED.

Sulfuric acid is used all over the world to make:

 Fertilizers
 Detergents
 Dyes
 medicine
 insecticides
 paint
 batteries

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Year 7 Checkpoint 6.1 Acids and alkalis Mr. Gilbert
Different types of acids can be found in everyday life. Some foods that we consume contain
different classes of acids.

Image Source Acid

Vinegar Ethanoic acid

Tea Tannic acid

Vitamin C Ascorbic acid

Lemons Citric acid

Fizzy drinks Carbonic acid

Alkali

Alkalis are the chemical opposite of acids. The other name for alkalis is bases.

They feel soapy when in contact with your skin.

Strong alkalis are also extremely corrosive like acids.

Fruits and vegetables are usually alkali while meat is usually acidic.

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Year 7 Checkpoint 6.1 Acids and alkalis Mr. Gilbert

Alkalis have a pH value of 7 and above and will change red litmus paper BLUE.

Sodium hydroxide solution is an important alkali. They react with oils and fats. So is often used
as household cleaners.

Alkali can be used to:

 neutralize acidic water

 Lake treatment
 Sewage treatment – reduce odor or bacteria
 Detergent
 Glass

The pH scale

The pH scale allow chemical properties to be divided into three categories

1. Acids
2. Alkali / base
3. Neutral solutions

pH 7 indicated neutral solutions such as pure water.

Acids are lower than pH 7, the lower the pH, the more acidic the solution is, the higher
concentration of hydrogen ions.

Alkalis are higher than pH7, the higher the pH, the more alkaline the solution. The higher the
concentration of hydroxide ions

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Year 7 Checkpoint 6.1 Acids and alkalis Mr. Gilbert
Universal indicators are used to determine the exact pH value of a solution.

Some examples of acids and alkalis and their pH strengths

pH Examples
Strong Alkali 14 Drain cleaner

13 Bleach

12 Soapy water

11 Ammonia

10 Milk

9 Baking powder

8 Sea Water

Neutral 7 Pure water

6 Saliva

5 Coffee

4 Acid rain

3 Vinegar

2 Lemon Juice

1 Stomach acid

Strong acids 0 Battery acid

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