MATERIAL WORLD – ACIDS AND BASES
Electronic Science LabBook
Designed by HMG
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Learning outcomes for this topic
Describe an acid and a base and their properties.
Name common laboratory acids and bases and those found in everyday life.
Describe the ions produced by acids and alkalis (bases)
Task One
Task Two
Task Three
Describe pH and where this scale can be used in everyday life.
Match colours of litmus/UI with solutions of various pH
Task Four
Task Five
Predict products for acid reactions:
acid + reactive metal
acid + oxide
acid + hydroxide
acid + carbonate
Task Six
Write word and formula equations for acid reactions
Task Seven
Explain neutralisation
Task Eight
Apply acid-base reactions to everyday situations
Task Nine
Task Ten
1

Describe an acid and a base and their properties.

Name common laboratory acids and bases and those found in everyday life.

Describe the ions produced by acids and alkalis (bases)
Let’s talk about ACID and BASES. Acids and bases are two special kinds of chemicals. Almost all
liquids are either acids or bases to some degree. Whether a liquid is an acid or base depends on
the type of ions in it. If it has a lot of hydrogen ions, then it is an acid. If it has a lot of hydroxide
ions, then it is a base.
Task one
What do you notice from the above poster:
the ions present in an acid solution are X and the ions present in a base solution are X
the pH of acids X and the pH of bases X
the taste of an acid X and the taste of a base X
one place we find an acid X and one place we find a base X
2
Song about acids and bases:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTLiJE-j1-I&list=PLB3i7Z4ItS1vFJgnmFaVeSdDIDtR4a3y&index=7
Good video of overview of topic (about 30min long)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdEh976I1YA
Task two
Definition of acids and bases: There are several methods of defining acids and bases. While these
definitions don't contradict each other, they do vary in how inclusive they are
At school we stick with this definition –
Acids are proton ____________ and produce __________ ions when dissolved in water
Bases are proton ____________ and produce __________ ions when they dissolve in water
Note that not all bases dissolve in water, those that do dissolve are called ____________.
Task three
Visit the website http://www.chem4kids.com/files/react_acidbase.html
Make a list of acids and bases mentioned in the article:
Acids: X
Bases: X
3

Describe pH and where this scale can be used in everyday life.

Match colours of litmus/UI with solutions of various pH
Good video on acids, bases and pH:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xeuyc55LqiY
Interactive on pH of some common substances:
http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/acids/
pH Scale :Scientists use something called a pH scale to measure how acidic or basic a liquid is. pH
is a number from 0 to 14. From 0 to 7 are acids, with 0 being the strongest. From 7 to 14 are bases
with 14 being the strongest base. If a liquid has a pH of 7, it's neutral. This would be something like
distilled water.
Indicators are dyes which give us visual information about an acid and a base solution
Task four
Explain the colours of the indicator litmus and what those colours mean. X
Can litmus tell us how acidic or how basic a solution is? Explain X
Explain the colours of universal indicator and what those colours mean. X
Can universal indicator tell us how acidic or how basic a solution is? X Explain X
Insert a picture of the pH scale, showing a pH of 0 to 14, with colours to indicate the pH according
to universal indicator
Task five
Find out what fruits / flowers / vegetables can be used to make indicators X
Perform an experiment at home using one of the above and state colour in vinegar (an acid) and
baking soda (a base). Take photographs and paste them in here,
4

Predict products for acid reactions:
acid + reactive metal
acid + oxide
acid + hydroxide
acid + carbonate
You need to remember the following about acid reactions:
acid
acid
acid
acid
+
+
+
+
reactive metal  salt + hydrogen
hydroxide  salt + water
oxide  salt + water
carbonate/bicarbonate  salt + water + carbon dioxide
You need to remember the following about the salts formed:
hydrochloric acids make salts called chlorides
sulfuric acid makes salts called sulfates
Task Six
Predict the name of the salt formed when the following are mixed
Hydrochloric acid reacting with sodium hydroxide X
Hydrochloric acid reacting with magnesium
X
Hydrochloric acid reacting with zinc carbonate
X
Sulfuric acid reacts with copper oxide
X
Sulfuric acid reacts with magnesium
X
Sulfuric acid reacts with calcium carbonate X
5

Write word and formula equations for acid reactions
Task Seven
Please complete the following word equations:
hydrochloric acid + magnesium  X
hydrochloric acid + sodium oxide  X
hydrochloric acid + sodium hydroxide  X
hydrochloric acid + calcium carbonate  X
sulfuric acid + zinc  X
sulfuric acid + magnesium oxide  X
sulfuric acid + zinc hydroxide  X
sulfuric acid + calcium carbonate  X
6

Explain neutralisation
A salt is any compound which can be derived from the neutralization of an acid and a base. The
word "neutralization" is used because the acid and base properties of H + and OH- are destroyed or
neutralized. In the reaction, H+ and OH- combine to form H2O or water molecules.
H+ + OH-  H2O
pH less than 7
pH more than 7
pH = 7
Task Eight
http://www.elmhurst.edu/~chm/vchembook/183neutral.html
Read through the article about neutralisation. Near the bottom there is information to do the
following question.
Explain how antacid tablets can relieve indigestion and assist with peptic ulcers. X
List some chemicals found in antacids X
7

Apply acid-base reactions to everyday situations.
Task Nine
Find out about citric acid, and write a short paragraph about it.
http://candy.about.com/od/candyglossary/a/What-Is-Citric-Acid.htm
Go to the following sites and write a brief paragraph about acids and bases in nature
http://www.ehow.com/list_7193441_acids-bases-environment.html
Find out about some acids and bases in the body and write a brief paragraph
http://www.livestrong.com/article/43925-importance-acids-bases/
For experts – an interesting article about acids and bases in the home
http://kitchenscience.sci-toys.com/acids
Task Ten
Search out the answers:
The acid found in rubarb leaves X
The acid found in oranges and lemons X
The acid found in oak leaves X
The acid found in fire ants X
The acid found in stinging nettles X
The acid found in car batteries X
The acid found in vinegar X
The acid produced in muscles when exercising X
The base found in baking soda X
The base found in washing soda X
The base found in drain cleaner X
The base found in Handy Andy® cleaner X
The base found in potash X
8