Chemistry
Writing and Naming Acids and Bases Notes
Acids:
-acids are ionic compounds.
-an acid is a compound that contains one or more hydrogen atoms and produces
hydrogen ions when dissolved in water.
-when naming an acid, you can consider the acid to consist of an anion combined
with as many hydrogen ions as needed to make the molecule electrically neutral.
-the chemical formula of acids are in the general form HnX, where X is a
monatomic anion or polyatomic anion and n is a subscript indicating the number
of hydrogen ion that are combined with the anion.
Anion Ending
-ide
-ite
-ate
Rules for Naming Common Acids
Example
Acid Name
Chloride, Cl
Hydro-(stem) – ic
acid
Sulfite, SO32(stem) – ous acid
2Sulfate, SO4
(stem) – ic acid
Example
Hydrochloric acid
Sulfurous acid
Sulfuric acid
Common Acids
Name
Hydrochloric acid
Formula
HCl
Sulfuric acid
H2SO4
Nitric acid
HNO3
Ethanoic acid or acetic
acid
Phosphoric acid
HC2H3O2
Carbonic acid
H2CO3
H3PO4
Uses
Used to clean metals before electroplating,
household cleaning, leather processing, and
swimming pool maintenance
Used in pipe cleaners, as a catalyst, a dehydrating
agent, found in medicines for canker sores.
Used in the production of fertilizers, explosives,
and purification and extraction of gold.
Used in vinegar.
Used to remove rust, processed foods, medicine
and dentistry.
Used in carbonated drinks.
Bases:
-a base is generally an ionic compound that produces hydroxide ion when
dissolved in water.
-to write the formula for a base, first write the symbol for the metal cation
followed by the formula for the hydroxide ion OH- . Then balance the ionic
charges just as you would for any ionic compound.
Name
Sodium hydroxide
Common Bases
Formula
NaOH
Magnesium hydroxide
Mg(OH)2
Aluminum hydroxide
Al(OH)3
Calcium hydroxide
Ca(OH)2
Uses
Used in making soaps,
detergents, cleaners, and
paper
Used as an antacid,
antiperspirant deodorant,
and to neutralize acid
waste
Used to make other
aluminum compound and
to make gastric medicine
such as antacids
Used to make cement,
limestone, and in sewage
treatment