Chemistry Notes

9 Properties of an Acid

1. pH is less than 7

2. Sour Taste

3. Reacts with metals to form Hydrogen Gas (H₂)       Zn + 2HCl → ZnCl₂+H₂

4. Increased Hydrogen Ion concentration in water

5. Donates H⁺ Ions

6. Turns blue litmus paper red

7. They are liquids

8. They are solutions of compounds in water

9. They react with metals to from salts  2Na +2HCl → 2NaCl + H₂

8 Properties of bases

1. They have a bitter taste

2. pH is greater than 7

3. They are slippery

4. Many bases react with acids and precipitate salts     2NaCl + 2HNO₃ → 2NaNO₃ + HCl

5. Strong bases may react violently with acids

6. Bases turn litmus paper blue

7. Bases are substances that contain metal oxides or hydroxides (NaOH)

8. Bases which are soluble in water form alkalis

Ways to Form Salts

1. Acid + Metals → Salt + Hydrogen       2HCl + 2Na → 2NaCl + H₂

2. Acid + Base → Salt + Water        H₂SO₄ + CuO → CuSO₄ + H₂O

3. Acid + Carbonate → Salt + Water + Carbon Dioxide 

2HNO₃ + CaCO₃ → Ca(NO₃)₂ + H₂O + CO₂

4. Acid + Metal Oxide → Salt + Water         2HCl + ZnO → ZnCl₂ +H₂

• Bronsted-Lowry Acid - A substance that donates a proton to another substance

  • Ex: HCl + H₂O → H₃O⁺ + Cl^-

• Bronsted-Lowry Base - A substance that accepts a proton

  • Ex: NH₃ + H₂O → NH₄⁺ + OH^-

• Conjugate Acid - An acid that forms when a base gains a proton

• Conjugate Base - A base that forms when an acid loses a proton

NH₃ + H₂O → NH₄⁺ + OH^-

B     +   A   →  CA   +  CB