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Acids and Bases Facts & Worksheets

Acids and bases are two types of compounds. To some extent, almost all liquids are acids or bases.

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Acids and bases are two types of compounds. To some extent, almost all liquids are acids or bases. The sort of ions in a liquid determines whether it is acidic or basic. It is an acid if it has a high concentration of hydrogen ions. It is a base if it has a high concentration of hydroxide ions.

See the fact file below for more information on Acids and Bases, or you can download our 24-page Acids and Bases worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

ACIDS AND BASES

Acids

  • You’ve probably heard the phrase acid before, and you’ve probably heard anything described as acidic. While you may have a rough understanding of what these phrases signify, understanding what these terms mean on a scientific level is beneficial.
  • Consider lemonade or orange juice as examples. Consider the delightful tangy flavor you receive from any of these beverages. That tang is a direct effect of the acidic composition of these beverages. 
  • These drinks and many other things are inherently acidic because they contain a high concentration of hydrogen ions. 
  • An ion is a positively or negatively charged atom or molecule. So a hydrogen ion has the least amount of electrical charge.
  • The following are some of the qualities of acids:
    • Acids are electrolytes because they carry electricity.
    • They convert blue litmus to red litmus.
    • The majority of the acids are solid.
    • It has a sour flavor.
    • They generate hydrogen by interacting with active metals such as zinc, magnesium, aluminum, or iron.
    • Acids have a low pH, i.e., less than 7.
    • Salts and water form when an acid combines with a base or an alkali.
    • The majority of acids are solids.
    • Some of the acids are considered corrosive.
    • Strong and less volatile salts replace weak and more volatile acids.
  • Hydrobromic acid (HBr)
  • HI (hydroiodic acid) 
  • Perchloric acid (HClO4)
  • Chloric acid (HClO3)

Weak Acids: A weak acid dissociates ions in water partially. The remaining acids are weak, except for a few strong acids. 

  • Hydrofluoric acid forms when hydrogen and halogen join in a reaction to generate a weak acid. 
  • In contrast, hydrochloric acid is solid, exceedingly powerful, and corrosive but is characterized as a weak acid.

Types of Acids

  • Strong acids dissociate ions in water, whereas weak acids only partially dissociate ions in water. Acids are divided into two categories based on ion dissociation in water, namely strong acids and weak acids, as shown below:

Strong acids: Dissociate the ions in water. The following are some examples of strong acids:

  • Hydrochloric acid (HCL)
  • Nitric acid (HNO3)

Bases

  • In aqueous solutions, a base is a chemical entity that gives electrons, receives protons, or releases hydroxide (OH-) ions. 
  • The base has various features that can be used to identify it. The following characteristics may identify bases: they are slippery to the touch (e.g., soap), bitter in taste, react with acid to produce salt, and accelerate specific processes. 
  • Several scientists have offered various definitions of bases, such as the Arrhenius, Bronsted-Lowry, and Lewis bases. 
  • Bases include alkali metal hydroxides, alkaline earth metal hydroxides, and soap.

Properties of Bases

  • The following are some qualities of bases. 
    • A base solution has a pH balance that is greater than 7.
    • Bases have a harsh flavor; therefore, avoid tasting them.
  • When an aqueous or molten base solution dissociates into ions, they conduct electricity.
  • Because strong bases are caustic, they react vigorously with acids and organic materials. 
  • Bases respond appropriately with pH indicators. In the presence of a base, it turns litmus paper blue, methyl orange-yellow, and phenolphthalein pink, but bromothymol blue remains blue. 

Types of Bases

  • There are several forms of bases, which are listed below.

Strong base: It dissociates into its ions in water or a molecule that may remove a proton (H+) from a weak acid. 

  • NaOH and KOH are examples of strong bases.

Weak Bases: These bases disintegrate in water. The aqueous solution is one example that includes a base and its conjugate acid. 

  • A neutral base and a neutral acid create a bond. 

Super Base: This base is generated by alkali metal with its conjugate acid and is superior to a strong base. One example of a super base is sodium hydride (NaH). 

Strong Acids and Bases

  • Acids with a pH of less than one are highly reactive and can be hazardous. The same is true for bases with a pH close to 13. In the lab, chemists utilize strong acids and bases to produce chemical reactions. Although these potent compounds might be hazardous, they can also be beneficial. 
  • In a chemical lab, only touch acids or bases if supervised by your teacher. They are highly harmful and can cause skin burns.

DETERMINING ACIDS AND BASES

pH Scale

  • The sort of ions in a liquid determines whether it is an acid or a basic. A liquid with more hydrogen ions is an acid; if it contains more hydroxide ions, it is a base. 
  • The word pH refers to the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution.
  • The pH scale has a scale of 1 to 14. Acidic liquids have a pH value ranging from 0 to 7, with 0 being the most acidic. Bases are liquids with pH values ranging from 7 to 14, with 14 being the most powerful. A liquid with a pH of 7 is said to be neutral. 
  • A solution has the same quantity of hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions. 
  • Water has a pH of 7 because it divides into an equal quantity of hydrogen and hydroxide ions as it breaks up.

Indicators

  • The majority of liquids are either acidic or basic. However, we cannot taste every chemical to determine if it is an acid or a base, can we? 
  • As a result, specific substances are used to assess whether a material is acidic or basic. These compounds are known as indicators.
  • When indicators are dipped into a solution containing an acidic or basic chemical, their color changes, and some of the naturally occurring markers include litmus, turmeric, and China rose petals.
  • Litmus is the most often utilized natural indicator. It is extracted from lichens. It is purple, but when an acidic solution comes into contact with it, it turns red, and when a basic solution comes into contact with it, it turns blue. 
  • Litmus is sold on the market as a solution or as paper strips.

USES OF ACIDS AND BASES

Acids and Bases in Nature 

  • In nature, there are several strong acids and bases. Some of them are poisonous and are utilized as bait by insects and animals. Some are beneficial. 
  • Many plants contain acids and bases in their leaves, seeds, or sap. Citric acid is found in the juice of citrus fruits such as lemons and oranges. This is what gives lemons their sour flavor.

Acids and Bases in Human Body

  • Our bodies also employ acids and bases. Our stomachs use Hydrochloric acid to aid digestion. This powerful acid also destroys microorganisms and helps to keep us healthy. 
  • When we do a workout, our muscles create lactic acid. In addition, our pancreas employs an alkali base to aid digestion. 
  • These are just a few instances of how the chemistry of bases and acids aids in the functioning of our bodies.

Other

  • Acids and bases are useful in science and technology. Sulphuric acid, a powerful acid, is used in car batteries. 
  • Chemical processes between the acid and lead plates in the battery contribute to energy production, which is used to start an automobile. 
  • They are also found in many home cleaning goods, baking soda, and agricultural fertilizers.

FUN FACTS

  • Acids and bases can assist each other in neutralizing.
  • Acids make litmus paper red, whereas bases make it blue.
  • Strong bases can be slippery and sticky to the touch.
  • Acids have a sour flavor, whereas bases have a bitter taste.
  • Proteins are composed of amino acids.
  • Ascorbic acid is another name for vitamin C.
  • Ammonia is a basic substance.

Acids and Bases Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Acids and Bases across 24 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Acids and Bases. Acids and bases are two types of compounds. To some extent, almost all liquids are acids or bases.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Acids and Bases Facts
  2. Flask of Qualities
  3. pH Levels
  4. Chem Vocab
  5. Who’s the Suspect?
  6. Acidic/Basic Products
  7. Making Indicators
  8. Cleaning Pennies
  9. Acid or Base?
  10. Chemical Jingle
  11. Neutralization

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an acid?

An acid is a chemical substance that donates hydrogen ions (H+) or protons in aqueous solution. Acids have a sour taste, turn litmus paper red, and react with bases to form salts and water.

What is a base?

A base is a chemical substance that accepts hydrogen ions (H+) or donates hydroxide ions (OH-) in aqueous solution. Bases have a bitter taste, turn litmus paper blue, and react with acids to form salts and water.

What is pH?

pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity of a solution. It is defined as the negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration in moles per liter (pH = -log[H+]). A pH of 7 is neutral, below 7 is acidic, and above 7 is basic.

What is the difference between a strong acid and a weak acid?

A strong acid completely dissociates in water to form H+ ions and anions, whereas a weak acid only partially dissociates, resulting in an equilibrium between the acid and its conjugate base. Strong acids have a low pH and are more reactive than weak acids.

What is an acid-base reaction?

An acid-base reaction is a chemical reaction that occurs when an acid and a base are mixed together. The acid donates H+ ions to the base, which accepts them to form water and salt. This type of reaction is also known as a neutralization reaction.

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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