1.

Definition & General Properties Formulae of Common Acids & Alkalis

o Acids dissolve in water to form Acids:

hydrogen ions (H+). They have
 hydrochloric acid (HCl) – forms
a sour taste.
chloride salts (Cl-)
o] Bases are metal oxides or
 nitric acid (HNO3) –

Acids
hydroxides.
forms nitrate salts (NO3-)
o Alkalis are bases that dissolve
 sulfuric acid (H2SO4) –
in water to form hydroxide
forms sulfate salts (SO42-)
ions (OH-). They have a bitter
taste.
and Alkalis:

 sodium hydroxide (NaOH)

Bases  aqueous ammonia (NH3)

2-Page
Summar
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Reactions of Acids and Bases (3 + 1) Types of Oxides
a) metal + acid  salt + hydrogen non-metal oxides: either ACIDIC or NEUTRAL
e.g: magnesium + hydrochloric acid  magnesium chloride + hydrogen o acidic oxides dissolve in water to form acidic
Mg + 2HCl  MgCl2 + H2 solutions, and react with alkalis.
o e.g: carbon dioxide (CO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2)
Test for hydrogen:
o Put a lighted splint into the test tube o neutral oxides DO NOT REACT WITH BOTH
o If hydrogen is present, lighted splint is extinguished with a “Pop” sound ACIDS AND ALKALIS
o e.g: nitric oxide (NO), carbon monoxide (CO),
b) carbonate + acid  salt + water + carbon dioxide water (H2O)
e.g: [NO COLD WATER]
magnesium carbonate + nitric acid  magnesium nitrate + water + carbon dioxide
MgCO3 + 2HNO3  Mg(NO3)2 + H2O + CO2 metal oxides: either BASIC OR AMPHOTERIC
o basic oxides react with acids (form salt and
Test for carbon dioxide water)
o Bubble the gas into limewater o e.g: magnesium oxide (MgO), sodium oxide
o If carbon dioxide is present, a white precipitate is formed. (Na2O), copper (II) oxide (CuO)

o amphoteric oxides REACT WITH BOTH ACIDS

c) base + acid  salt + water [NEUTRALISATION] AND BASES
e.g: magnesium oxide + sulfuric acid  magnesium sulfate + water o e.g: zinc oxide (ZnO), aluminium oxide
MgO + H2SO4  MgSO4 + H2O (Al2O3), lead (II) oxide (PbO)

d) base + ammonium salt  salt + water + ammonia

e.g: sodium hydroxide + ammonium nitrate  sodium nitrate + water + ammonia
NaOH + NH4NO3  NaNO3 + H2O + NH3

Test for ammonia:

o Place a piece of moist red litmus paper near the test tube
o If ammonia is present, moist red litmus paper turns blue