Question 1 – What are acids? How many types are there? Describe the properties and uses of acids.

Definition of Acid – "Substances that taste sour and turn blue litmus paper red are called acids."


Types of Acids

Acids are mainly of two types:

  1. Organic or Naturally Occurring Acids
  2. Inorganic or Mineral Acids


Organic Acids
– Naturally occurring acids are dilute acids. They are found in varying amounts in our food items. Some acids present in food items include:

  • Ascorbic acid in onions
  • Malic acid in apples
  • Lactic acid in curd
  • Tartaric acid in tamarind
  • Acetic acid in vinegar
  • Carbonic acid in cold drinks
  • Citric acid in oranges
  • Oxalic acid in tomatoes 
  •                                          

                                                                      Reactions

Reaction with Metals – Naturally occurring acids are very dilute, so they react slowly with metals to form toxic compounds. For example, if a small piece of aluminum foil is placed in lemon juice, bubbles of hydrogen gas rise, indicating that the lemon juice has reacted with the foil.

Reaction with Alkalis – Naturally occurring acids also react slowly with alkalis. However, the result of acid-alkali reactions differs from metal reactions. Instead of hydrogen gas bubbles, salt or water is formed.

Mineral Acids – Mineral acids are prepared from minerals. Most mineral acids are strong acids, such as sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, and phosphoric acid. These are commonly used mineral acids. Mineral acids are used in the manufacture of fertilizers, industrial chemicals, explosives, dyes, and pigments. One of the mineral acids, hydrochloric acid, helps in digestion of food in the stomach.

                                                                                                Most mineral acids are corrosive and cause irritation on the skin.
Hence, these acids should be used with caution.
They should not be touched or tasted, and only dilute acids should be used.




Properties of Acids

(i) Taste – Acids and their solutions taste sour.

(ii) Corrosive Nature – Concentrated mineral acids like sulfuric acid and nitric acid corrode living tissues, clothes, paper, and metals. They react strongly with these materials.   

                                                                Reactions

(i) Reaction with Indicators
An indicator is a substance that shows different colors in acidic and alkaline mediums. Litmus, methyl orange, phenolphthalein are commonly used indicators. Acids and their solutions turn blue litmus red. Acids and their solutions turn yellow methyl orange red. Acids and their solutions have no effect on phenolphthalein.


Hence, if a solution turns blue litmus red, it is an acid or its solution.

(ii) Reaction with Metals
Acids mostly react with metals to form salts and release hydrogen gas. Dilute sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid react with active metals like magnesium and zinc to form salts and hydrogen gas.


Note
– Noble and less reactive metals like copper, silver, and gold do not displace hydrogen from acids.

(iii) Reaction with Carbonates and Hydrogen Carbonates
Acids decompose carbonates and hydrogen carbonates to form salts and release carbon dioxide gas.
For example – Sodium carbonate and calcium carbonate react with hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid to form salts and release carbon dioxide gas.


(iv) Reaction with Metallic Oxides
Acids react with metallic oxides to form salts and water. The effect of acid is neutralized by alkali. Acids and alkalis are opposites of each other. When acids and alkalis react, they neutralize each other's effects and form salt and water. This reaction is called a neutralization reaction.


(v) Solution Form of Acids
All acids release free hydronium ions (H₃O⁺) in aqueous solution. Strong acids completely dissociate in solution.

Hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, and sulfuric acid are commercially very important acids. Some important uses of these acids are mentioned below:

Uses of Hydrochloric Acid (HCl)
(a) In the production of chlorides and chlorine gas
(b) To clean iron sheets before tinning
(c) In the textile industry for dyeing fabrics

Uses of Nitric Acid (HNO₃)
(a) In the manufacture of fertilizers, explosives, dyes, and medicines
(b) In refining gold and silver

Uses of Sulfuric Acid (H₂SO₄)
(a) In the manufacture of fertilizers, detergents, plastics, and synthetic fibers
(b) In the petroleum industry for refining
(c) In lead batteries (as an electrolyte)


पॉपुलर पोस्ट

[Luminous Intensity] ज्योति तीव्रता किसे कहते हैं? इसकी परिभाषा, मात्रक, विमा, सूत्र एवम् संकेत

[Solid angle] घन कोण क्या है, इसकी परिभाषा तथा सूत्र एवम् संकेत

[Luminous Flux] ज्योति फ्लक्स क्या है, किसे कहते हैं, इसकी परिभाषा, मात्रक, सूत्र एवम् प्रतीक

केल्विन क्या है, किसका मात्रक है, इसकी परिभाषा एवं संकेत [Kelvin]

मीटर की परिभाषा [ definition of Meter ]