Acids and Bases In GCSE Chemistry, understanding acids and bases is essential for grasping fundamental chemical concepts. This topic covers the properties, reac...
In GCSE Chemistry, understanding acids and bases is essential for grasping fundamental chemical concepts. This topic covers the properties, reactions, and applications of acids and bases, along with the pH scale and neutralisation reactions.
Acids are substances that release hydrogen ions (H+) in solution, while bases release hydroxide ions (OH-). The strength of an acid or base is determined by its ability to dissociate in water:
The pH scale measures the acidity or alkalinity of a solution, ranging from 0 to 14:
Each unit change in pH represents a tenfold change in hydrogen ion concentration.
Neutralisation occurs when an acid reacts with a base to produce a salt and water:
Problem: What is formed when hydrochloric acid reacts with sodium hydroxide?
Solution:
Salts can be prepared through various methods:
Titrations are used to determine the concentration of an acid or base in a solution. A known concentration of one reactant is gradually added to the other until the reaction reaches the end point, indicated by a color change using an appropriate indicator.
Electrolysis is a process that uses electricity to drive a non-spontaneous chemical reaction. It can be applied to:
Half equations can be used to represent the reactions occurring at each electrode during electrolysis.
Acids and bases have numerous applications in everyday life and industry, including:
Understanding acids and bases is crucial for further studies in chemistry and various scientific applications.