Chemical Properties of Acids and Bases

What are Chemical Properties?

Chemical properties describe how a substance reacts with other substances or transforms into new substances. For acids and bases, these properties help us understand their reactivity, effects on indicators, and behaviors in various chemical reactions.

Properties of Acids

Reaction with Metals: Acids react with certain metals (like Zn, Fe, Mg) to produce hydrogen gas. E.g. Zn + 2HCl → ZnCl₂ + H₂ ↑
Reaction with Carbonates & Bicarbonates: Acids react with carbonates/bicarbonates to produce salt, water, and carbon dioxide gas. E.g. Na₂CO₃ + 2HCl → 2NaCl + H₂O + CO₂ ↑
Change in Indicators: Acids turn blue litmus red, methyl orange red, and phenolphthalein colorless.
Neutralization: Acids react with bases to form water and a salt (neutralization reaction).
Electrical Conductivity: Aqueous acid solutions conduct electricity due to the presence of ions.

Properties of Bases

Reaction with Acids: Bases react with acids in neutralization reactions to produce salt and water.
Reaction with Ammonium Salts: Bases release ammonia gas when heated with ammonium salts. E.g. Ca(OH)₂ + 2NH₄Cl → CaCl₂ + 2NH₃ ↑ + 2H₂O
Effect on Indicators: Bases turn red litmus blue, methyl orange yellow, and phenolphthalein pink.
Electrical Conductivity: Like acids, aqueous base solutions conduct electricity due to ions.
Reaction with Metals: Some bases react with certain metals (like aluminum, zinc) to produce hydrogen gas.

Acids vs. Bases: At a Glance

Acids	Bases
Sour taste	Bitter, slippery feel
Produce H⁺ ions in water	Produce OH⁻ ions in water
Turns blue litmus red	Turns red litmus blue
React with metals, carbonates	React with ammonium salts, some metals

Visualization: Acid-Base Reaction

Acid (HCl) + Base (NaOH) → Salt (NaCl) + Water (H₂O)

The above equation shows a classic neutralization reaction found in laboratories and everyday products.