Strength of Acids and Bases
The strength of an acid or a base is measured by the amount of H+ ions or OH– ions present in their aqueous solution.
Strong acids have a higher concentration of H+ ions per unit volume in their aqueous solution whereas weaker acids have a lower concentration of H+ ions per unit volume in their aqueous solution. An example of a strong acid is H2SO4 and an example of a weak acid is CH3COOH.
Similarly, strong bases have a higher concentration of OH– ions per unit volume in their aqueous solution whereas weaker bases have a lower concentration of OH– ions per unit volume in their aqueous solution. An example of a strong base is KOH and an example of a weak acid is CaO.
The strength of Acids and Bases can easily be measured using a pH scale.
pH Scale
pH scale is used to measure the basicity and acidity of a solution. It gives the strength of any solution. pH is determined by the amount of hydrogen ion concentration in the solution.
It is calculated using the formula,
pH = -log[H+]
For an acid, pH ranges from 0 to 7 whereas for a base it ranges between 7 and 14. The lower the pH higher is the strength of the acid and the higher the pH higher the strength of the base.
Note: pH ranges of acids and bases.
- 0 < Acid < 7
- 7 < Base< 14
For more detail on pH read, Importance of pH in Everyday Life.
Acids, Bases and Salts
Acids, Bases, and Salts are the main chemical compounds that exist in our surroundings. Acids, Bases, and Salts are compounds that occur naturally and can also be created artificially. They are found in various substances including our food. Vinegar or acetic acid is used as a food preservative. Citrus fruits have citric acid and etc.
Other than food they also have a wide variety of uses such as in various industries, manufacturing plants, processing plants, laboratories, and others. In this article, we will learn about Acids, Bases, and Salts, their properties, types, uses, and others in detail. The image given below shows acid and base which when reacting form salt.
Table of Content
- What are Acids?
- Types of Acids
- Uses of Acids
- What are Bases?
- Types of Bases
- Uses of Bases
- Indicator
- What are Salts?
- Types of Salts
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