Acids and alkalis
A information leaflet about acids and alkalis
What Is An Acid?
A chemical substance (typically, a corrosive or sour-tasting liquid) that neutralizes alkalis, dissolves metal, and turns red in universal indicator.
What Is An Alkali
A carbonate or hydroxide of an alkali metal, It neutralizes acids to form salts and turn universal indicator blue / purple
What Is Universal Indicator
A Universal indicator is a pH indicator composed of a solution of several compounds that exhibits several smooth colour changes over a pH value range from 1-14 to indicate the acidity or alkalinity of solutions, red Being the most acidic and purple the most alkalic.
How Are Acids Used In Industry? (Sulphuric acid)
- Sulphuric acid is used to wash impurities from fuel/ petrol during the refining process
- It is also used in processing metals e.g. cleaning (pickling) iron and steel before being plated with zinc because
- It is also a very strong oxidising agent and dehydrating agent
- It is also a powerful dehydrating agent and is used to remove a molecule of Water, HO2, from many organic compounds
(Nitric Acid)
- It forms the basis of explosives and also fertilizers the almost opposite of an explosive as it helps plants to grow.
- Nitric acid can be used to manufacture components of trinitrotoluene (TNT) and also the so-called plastic explosive ‘Semtex’.
- an agricultural fertilizer where it promotes vigorous growth in plants,
- It can be used as an oxidizing agent in the production of some solid fuels for rocket propulsion as a component of rocket fuel acting as an oxidizer
(Hydrochloric Acid)
- Hydrochloric acid is used in the production of chlorides
- for refining ore in the production of tin and tantalum
- for pickling and cleaning of metal products
- in removing scale from boilers
- in the manufacture of fertilizers and dyes
- for hydrolyzing starch and proteins in the preparation of various food products
- in the photographic, textile, and rubber industries
Sulphuric acid vs a wet sponge - Stabalized