Basics of Acids, Bases and Salts

Basics of Acids, Bases and Salts


Basics Of Acids, Bases And Salts Notes
  • An acid is a compound which when dissolved in water yields hydronium ions [H3O+] as the only positively charged ions.
  • A base is a compound which reacts with hydronium ions of an acid to give salt and water only. Bases are oxides or hydroxides of a metal. Examples of insoluble bases[i.e. not alkalis – ZnO, PbO, CuO, Fe(OH)2, Pb(OH)2, Cu(OH)2.
  • An alkali is a compound which when dissolved in water yields hydroxyl ions[OH-] as the only negatively charged ions. The soluble bases are alkalis. Examples of soluble bases [i.e. alkalis] – KOH, NaOH[strong alkali], Ca(OH)2, NH4OH[weak alkali].
  • Organic acids are the acids derived from plants e.g. citric, oxalic, tartaric, acetic acid.
  • Inorganic acids are derived from minerals e.g. HCl, H2SO4.
  • Hydracids are the acids containing hydrogen and a non-metallic element o ther than oxygen e.g. HCL, HBr, HI.
  • Oxyacids are the acids containing hydrogen, another element and oxygen. E.g. HNO3, H2SO4.