Acids, Bases, and pH Fundamentals
Ever wondered why lemon juice tastes sour whilst soap feels slippery? It's all about pH levels, which you can measure using indicators or electronic pH meters. The pH scale runs from 0-14, where acids sit below 7 and alkalis above 7.
Acids release H⁺ ions when dissolved in water, making them acidic. Bases are substances that react with acids to form salts, whilst alkalis are bases that dissolve in water to form OH⁻ ions. When acids and bases meet, they neutralise each other in predictable ways.
The key neutralisation reactions you need to know are: acid + base → salt + water, acid + metal oxide → salt + water, and acid + metal hydroxide → salt + water. These equations pop up frequently in exams, so get comfortable with them.
Quick Tip: Remember that all alkalis are bases, but not all bases are alkalis - bases must dissolve in water to be alkalis!
Strong vs Weak Acids and Salt Production
Strong acids like hydrochloric acid completely ionise in water, releasing all their H⁺ ions. Weak acids like ethanoic acid only partially ionise, creating a reversible reaction that establishes equilibrium. This means strong acids always have lower pH values than weak acids at the same concentration.
Making soluble salts from insoluble bases follows a straightforward method: warm your chosen acid, add excess insoluble base until no more dissolves, filter out the excess solid, then gently evaporate water to form crystals.
When acids react with metals, you get salt plus hydrogen gas. The reactivity series (potassium, sodium, lithium, calcium, magnesium, carbon, zinc, iron, hydrogen, copper) tells you which metals will react and how vigorously.
Electrolysis Essentials
Electrolysis uses electrical current to break down compounds - it's like chemical demolition using electricity! When you pass current through an electrolyte, positive ions migrate to the negative cathode where they gain electrons, whilst negative ions head to the positive anode where they lose electrons.
This electron transfer creates a flow of charge through the electrolyte. As ions gain or lose electrons, they transform into uncharged elements and get discharged from the solution. It's a reliable way to extract elements or produce useful chemicals industrially.
Remember: Positive ions go to the cathode (negative electrode) - opposites attract in chemistry just like magnets!