Acids, Bases, and Salts: Definition, Properties, and Uses

Acids, bases, and salts are fundamental substances in chemistry that affect everything from digestion to industrial processes. Understanding their properties is crucial for science students, competitive exams (NEET, JEE, SSC), and everyday life.

This article covers:

✔ Definitions & Examples
✔ Physical & Chemical Properties
✔ pH Scale & Indicators
✔ Uses in Daily Life & Industry
✔ Neutralization Reactions

By the end, you'll clearly distinguish between acids, bases, and salts—essential for class 10 NCERT, lab work, and real-world applications.

🔬 Definitions & Examples

Category	Definition	Examples
Acids	Substances that release H⁺ ions in water, taste sour.	HCl, H₂SO₄, Citric Acid (lemon)
Bases	Substances that release OH⁻ ions, feel slippery, taste bitter.	NaOH, KOH, Baking Soda
Salts	Formed when acids + bases react (neutralization), ionic compounds.	NaCl, CaSO₄, KNO₃

📌 Properties of Acids, Bases, and Salts

1. Acids

Physical Properties:

Sour taste (e.g., lemon, vinegar).
Turn blue litmus red.
Corrosive (e.g., H₂SO₄ burns skin).

Chemical Properties:

React with metals → H₂ gas (e.g., Zn + HCl → ZnCl₂ + H₂).
React with carbonates → CO₂ gas (e.g., Na₂CO₃ + HCl → NaCl + CO₂).

2. Bases

Physical Properties:

Bitter taste (e.g., baking soda).
Turn red litmus blue.
Feel soapy (e.g., NaOH).

Chemical Properties:

React with acids → salt + water (neutralization).
Do not react with metals.

3. Salts

Physical Properties:

Crystalline solids (e.g., table salt).
High melting/boiling points.

Chemical Properties:

Conduct electricity in water (electrolytes).
Some are hygroscopic (absorb water, e.g., CaCl₂).

📊 pH Scale & Indicators

1. pH Scale (0–14)

0–6: Acidic (HCl = 1, stomach acid = 2).
7: Neutral (water, NaCl).
8–14: Basic (NaOH = 14, soap = 9).

2. Natural & Synthetic Indicators

Indicator	Acid (Color)	Base (Color)
Litmus	Red	Blue
Phenolphthalein	Colorless	Pink
Turmeric	Yellow	Red
China Rose	Dark Pink	Green

⚗️ Neutralization Reactions

When acids + bases react, they form salt + water:

HCl + NaOH → NaCl + H₂O (common salt).
H₂SO₄ + Ca(OH)₂ → CaSO₄ + H₂O (gypsum).

Real-Life Applications:

Antacids (Mg(OH)₂ neutralizes stomach acid).
Soil Treatment (lime for acidic soil).
Bee stings (base) treated with vinegar (acid).

🏆 Uses in Daily Life & Industry

1. Acids

HCl: Stomach digestion, cleaning metals.
H₂SO₄: Car batteries, fertilizers.
Citric Acid: Food preservative (juices, jams).

2. Bases

NaOH: Soap, paper, drain cleaner.
Ca(OH)₂: Whitewash, plaster.
NH₄OH: Household cleaners.

3. Salts

NaCl: Cooking, food preservation.
CaSO₄ (Gypsum): Plaster of Paris, cement.
AgNO₃: Photography, antiseptic.

Comments

Error Detection Rules in English Grammar Explain In Simple Way

यहाँ आपको Error Detection Rules in English Grammar की एक आसान और students-friendly लिस्ट मिल जाएगी, जो competitive exams (SSC, Banking, Railway, Defence, etc.) में बहुत काम आती है । Error Detection Rules in English Grammar (For Competitive Exams) Error detection में आपको एक sentence दिया जाता है, और आपको उसमें grammar की गलती ढूँढकर सही करना होता है। इसमें ज़्यादातर गलती subject-verb agreement, tense, article, preposition, pronoun, adjective, adverb, conjunction आदि में होती है। 1. Subject-Verb Agreement Rule Singular subject → singular verb Plural subject → plural verb ✅ Example: He goes to school. (not go ) ❌ Wrong: The boys plays cricket. ✅ Correct: The boys play cricket. 2. Tense Consistency Rule एक sentence में tense का form एक जैसा होना चाहिए। ❌ Wrong: He was going to market and buys some fruits. ✅ Correct: He was going to market and bought some fruits. 3. Article Usage Rule (a, an, the) 'a' → consonant sound से पहले 'an' → vowel sound...

Newton’s Laws of Motion: Explained with Real-Life Examples

Sir Isaac Newton's Three Laws of Motion (published in 1687) revolutionized physics by explaining how objects move. These laws govern everything from falling apples to rocket launches —making them essential for science students, competitive exams (JEE, NEET, SSC), and everyday understanding . This guide covers: ✔ Newton’s 3 Laws (Simple Definitions + Formulas) ✔ Real-Life Examples (Sports, Vehicles, Space) ✔ Common Misconceptions ✔ Practice Questions By the end, you'll see how these 300-year-old laws apply to your daily life! 📜 Newton’s Three Laws of Motion Law Statement Formula First Law (Inertia) An object remains at rest/moves at constant velocity unless acted upon by a net force. *F_net = 0 ⇒ a = 0* Second Law (F=ma) Force equals mass times acceleration. F = m × a Third Law (Action-Reaction) For every action, there’s an equal and opposite reaction. F₁₂ = −F₂₁ 🚀 Law-wise Explanation + Examples 1. First Law (Law o...

Fundamental Rights vs. Directive Principles: Key Differences

The Indian Constitution balances individual freedoms and societal welfare through Fundamental Rights (FRs) and Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSPs) . While both aim to establish justice, they differ significantly in enforceability, purpose, and scope . This comparison covers: ✔ Definitions & Constitutional Status ✔ 6 Key Differences (Enforceability, Amendments, etc.) ✔ Conflicts & Landmark Judgments ✔ Why Both Are Essential 🔍 Definitions Aspect Fundamental Rights (Part III) Directive Principles (Part IV) Nature Justiciable (enforceable in court) Non-justiciable (guidelines) Purpose Protect individual liberty Promote social & economic democracy Articles 12-35 36-51 Examples Right to Equality (Art. 14-18), Right to Freedom (Art. 19-22) Equal pay for equal work (Art. 39), Free education (Art. 45) ⚖️ 6 Key Differences 1. Enforceability FRs: Courts can punish violations (e.g., PILs for r...

Exam Guru

Search This Blog