Acids Bases in 5 Minutes — Free Quick Revision
Learn Acids Bases in about 5 minutes — a free bite-sized module with a clear explanation, a worked example and a quick quiz for Indian students.
TL;DR: Learn Acids Bases in about 5 minutes — a free bite-sized module with a clear explanation, a worked example and a quick quiz for Indian students.
Written & reviewed by the Syllab.in Academic Team (CBSE/NCERT subject experts) · Updated
Acids have pH < 7 and taste sour. Bases have pH > 7 and feel slippery. pH 7 is neutral. Acid + Base → Salt + Water.
Chemistry · Class 10 · about 6 minutes
The Idea
Acids are substances that donate protons (H⁺ ions) in solution. They taste sour, turn litmus paper red, and have pH < 7. Examples: HCl, H₂SO₄, citric acid in lemons, acetic acid in vinegar.
Bases are substances that accept protons and produce hydroxide ions (OH⁻). They taste bitter, feel slippery, turn litmus paper blue, and have pH > 7. Examples: NaOH, KOH, ammonia, baking soda.
The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14: - pH < 7: acidic - pH = 7: neutral (pure water) - pH > 7: basic (alkaline)
Neutralization is the reaction between an acid and a base: Acid + Base → Salt + Water Example: HCl + NaOH → NaCl + H₂O
The salt produced depends on which acid and base react. Strong acids + strong bases → soluble salts.
Worked Example: Neutralization Reaction
Problem. Write the balanced equation for HNO₃ (nitric acid) reacting with KOH (potassium hydroxide).
Solution.
HNO₃ + KOH → KNO₃ + H₂O
This is already balanced. One H⁺ from HNO₃ combines with one OH⁻ from KOH to form water. The remaining K⁺ and NO₃⁻ form potassium nitrate, a soluble salt.
Quick Quiz
Answer each one before reading the explanation beneath it.
1. What is the pH of a solution that is neither acidic nor basic?
- 0
- 7 — correct
- 14
- 3
7
2. Which gas is produced when an acid reacts with a metal?
- Oxygen (O₂)
- Carbon dioxide (CO₂)
- Hydrogen (H₂) — correct
- Nitrogen (N₂)
Hydrogen (H₂)
3. A solution has pH 3. How many times more acidic is it than pH 6?
- 3 times
- 1000 times — correct
- 10 times
- 100 times
1000 times
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