Acids and Alkalis

Acids

Acids: a substance with particular chemical properties including turning litmus paper red, neutralizing alkalis and dissolving some metals. Acids are typically corrosive and sour in taste. For example, lemon or orange.

Common acids used in school:

1. Hydrochloric acid
2. Nitric acid
3. Sulphuric acid

Properties of acids:

• They are liquids. 
•  They are sour in taste.
• They turn down blue litmus red.
• They are good conductors of electricity.
• They are corrosive in danger.
• They react with alkalis to form salt and water.

 Some of the weak acids:

•  Citric acid
•  Formic acid
•  Electric acid

Some of the strong acids:

•  Sulphuric acid
•  Nitric acid
•  Hydrochloric acid

Alkalis

Alkalis: a compound with particular chemical properties including turning litmus paper blue and neutralizing with acids. They are typically a caustic or corrosive substance. For example, soap and toothpaste.

Common alkalis used in schools:

1. Sodium hydroxide
2. Ammonia
3. Calcium hydroxide 

Properties of alkalis:

• Alkalis are good conductors of electricity.
• They feel soapy and slippery in touch.
• They are corrosive in danger.
• They react with acids to form salt and water.
• They turn down red litmus blue.
• They taste bitter.

Some of the weak alkalis:.

• Ammonia
• Methylamine
• Pyrimidine

Some of the strong alkalis:

• Lithium hydroxide
• sodium hydroxide
• potassium hydroxide

Working safely with acids and alkalis:

When you handle chemicals you should:

• Stand up to work, so that if you spill something it does not spill onto you.
• Wear safety glasses, so nothing gets into your eyes.
• Take the top of the bottle and place it upside down on the work surface, so that it does not get acid onto the surface or dirt into the acid.
• Replace the bottle top as soon as you finish using the bottle. This prevents spills and replacing the wrong top on the wrong bottle.