Acids and alkalis

• Acid


  A chemical that produces hydrogen ions (H+) in aqueous solution
• Base


  A chemical that can neutralize acids, producing a salt and water
• Alkali


  A soluble base that produces hydroxide ions (OH-) in aqueous solution
• Acid in aqueous solution

  1. Produces hydrogen ions (H+)

  2. Produces chloride ions (Cl-)

  3. Produces sulfate ions (SO4^2-)

  4. Produces nitrate ions (NO3-)
• Base


  Metal oxides or metal hydroxides that can neutralize acids
• Alkali in aqueous solution

  1. Produces hydroxide ions (OH-)

  2. Produces sodium ions (Na+)
• pH scale


  • Measures the acidity or alkalinity of a solution
  • Acids have pH 0-6
  • Neutral solutions have pH 7
  • Alkaline solutions have pH 8-14
• Determining pH


  1. Using a pH probe

  2. Using universal indicator
• Neutralization reaction

  Acid (H+) + Alkali (OH-) → Salt + Water