Acids and Bases 2
Chemical Formula: Acids
When certain chemicals are mixed with water
they behave like acids: eg. HCl
We need to show that these chemicals are
mixed with water when we are using them so
we write it as HCl(aq)
(aq) aqueous = dissolved in water to make a
solution
Writing chemical formulas for acids
Formulas for Acids:
– Usually have the Hydrogen first (HCl(aq) , HNO3(aq))
– When carbon is also in the formula then the H is
written on the end (CH3COOH(aq) )
Writing Chemical Formulas/Names
Formulas for Acids:
– Usually have the Hydrogen first (HCl(aq) , HNO3(aq))
– When carbon is also in the formula then the H is
written on the end (CH3COOH(aq) )
Names for Acids:
• NO (AQ) HCl
– Usually the hydrogen goes first (Hydrogen chloride)
• (AQ) HCl(aq)
– May have a different name that ends in “-ic acid”
Common acids
FORMULA
HCl(aq)
H2SO4(aq)
CHEMICAL NAME
COMMON
NAME
EXAMPLE OF USES
Hydrochloric
Muriatic
Stomach acid, breaks down
acid
acid
food
Sulfuric acid Battery acid Metal cleaner, battery acid
HNO3(aq)
Nitric acid
Nitric acid
CH3COOH(aq) Ethanoic acid Acetic acid
Makes fertilizer
Found in vinegar
Writing chemical formulas for Bases
Formulas for Bases:
– Usually has a hydroxide (OH) eg. NaOH
– Same as any ionic compound (Sodium hydroxide)
Common bases
FORMULA
CHEMICAL NAME
COMMON
NAME
EXAMPLE OF USES
NaOH
Sodium
hydroxide
Magnesium
hydroxide
Caustic
soda
Milk of
magnesia
cleaner
Calcium
hydroxide
Ammonium
hydroxide
Hydrated
lime
Ammonia
Mg(OH)2
Ca(OH)2
NH4O H
antacids
Soil and water treatment
Kitchen cleaner
ions
• Acids = produce ions (H+) when dissolved in
water
A high concentration of H+ = low pH
• Bases = produce ions (OH-) when dissolved in
water
A high concentration of OH- = high pH
Why is water neutral?
H+ + OH-  H2O
(H-OH)
A water molecule is made of one H (acid ion)
and one OH (base ion) = acids and bases are
balanced