Lesson 2.1: Acids and Bases

You use many chemicals every day.  Acids and bases are groups of substances used in your day-to-day activities.  Do you know the scientific definitions of acids and bases?  Do you know when you are using acids or bases and what effects they have on other substances?  You will learn much about these interesting substances in this lesson. 

Read all the information on page 63 in your textbook.

Question 1. What are the characteristics of an acid?

Question 2. What are the characteristics of a base?

Question 3. What is the term used to describe a substance that is neither acidic nor basic?

Question 4. What is the resulting substance when an acid is neutralized by a base?

Question 5. What acid is found in car batteries?

Question 6. What base would you likely be using when you add some drain cleaner to clear a clogged drain?

Question 7. A candy tastes sour.  Does it contain an acid or a base?

Question 8. You have likely had some soap get into your mouth when having a shower or washing your face.  The taste is quite bitter.  Does soap contain an acid or a base?

Question 9. Who was Svante Arrhenius, and what is he known for?

Check your answers with those that follow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Answers to Questions:

Question 1. What are the characteristics of an acid?

An acid is a corrosive, sour-tasting substance that turns blue litmus paper red.  An acid has a "squeaky clean" feeling as compared to the "slippery" feeling of a base.

Question 2. What are the characteristics of a base?

A base is a slippery, bitter-tasting substance that turns red litmus paper blue.  Bases are also corrosive substances.

Question 3. What is the term used to describe a substance that is neither acidic nor basic?

The term used to describe a substance that is neither acidic nor basic is neutral.

Question 4. What is the resulting substance when an acid is neutralized by a base?

The resulting substance produced when an acid is neutralized be a base is a neutral substance.  You can also neutralize a base with an acid to produce a neutral substance.

Question 5. What acid is found in car batteries?

Sulphuric acid is the acid found in car batteries.  It is responsible for the chemical reactions with lead necessary to store and produce electricity.

Question 6. What base would you likely be using when you add some drain cleaner to clear a clogged drain?

Sodium hydroxide is a common ingredient in many drain cleaners.

Question 7. A candy tastes sour.  Does it contain an acid or a base?

A sour taste is a characteristic of an acid, so the candy likely contains an acid.

Question 8. You have likely had some soap get into your mouth when having a shower or washing your face.  The taste is quite bitter.  Does soap contain an acid or a base?

A bitter taste is a characteristic of a base, so soap contains a base.

Question 9. Who was Svante Arrhenius, and what is he known for?

Svante Arrhenius was a Swedish chemist.  He is known for his definition of acids and bases as well as being a winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1903.

 


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