Understanding Acids and Alkalis
Ever wondered why lemon juice tastes sour or why soap feels slippery? It's all about acids and alkalis! Acids are compounds that release H⁺ ions when dissolved in water, whilst alkalis release OH⁻ ions.
The three main acids you'll encounter are sulphuric acid (H₂SO₄), nitric acid (HNO₃), and hydrochloric acid (HCl). These pop up constantly in reactions, so memorise their formulas now.
The pH scale runs from 1 to 14 and tells you how acidic or alkaline something is. Solutions with pH less than 7 are acidic, pH 7 is neutral (like pure water), and pH greater than 7 is alkaline.
Quick Tip: The more H⁺ ions present, the lower the pH becomes - so stronger acids have lower pH values!
