Profile
Settings
Refer your friends
Sign out
What Are Acids?
Acids, in chemistry, are defined as molecules or other species that are capable of donating a proton or accepting an electron pair in reactions. All acids have some common characteristics. All are sour in taste. They can turn blue litmus paper into red colour, and when combined with the alkaline substances, acids can lose their acidity.
Examples of Acids
Following mentioned are some examples of acids:
- Some common examples of acids include Citrus fruits like limes, oranges, grapefruit, etc. These contain citric acid.
- Vinegar is another example of acid.
- Sulfuric acid, nitric acid, and hydrochloric acid are other common acids that are used in real life.
What Are The Properties Of Acids?
Following mentioned are the most significant properties of acids:
- Aqueous solutions of acids are electrolytes that imply that they can conduct an electrical current. Some acids are considered strong electrolytes because they ionise entirely in water, which results in producing a great many ions. Other acids are considered weak electrolytes because these exist in a non-ionized form when dissolved in water.
- Acids are usually sour in taste, such as vinegar, grapefruit, orange, lemon, etc.
- Acids are capable of changing the colour of specific acid-base indicators. Two common acid-base indicators are litmus and phenolphthalein. In the presence of acid blue litmus is turned into red and phenolphthalein turns colourless.
- It is the reaction of acids with active metals that yield hydrogen gas.
- The reaction of acids with the bases can produce salt compounds and water. When equal molecules of any particular acid and base are combined, the base neutralises the acid. The products formed after the reaction are ionic compounds which are referred to as salt and water.
- There are several uses of acids in real-life, like both sulphuric acid and nitric acid are used in producing fertilisers.
What Are The Uses Of Acids?
Many acids are commonly used both in industries and at home. Here mentioned are some uses of acids:
Hydrochloric Acid
Hydrochloric is a strong, corrosive mineral aid that can be used for multiple purposes in industries. When it comes to the most vital applications of hydrochloric acid, it is in the pickling of steel, removing the rust or iron oxide scale from the metal like iron and steel. Also, it is used in producing organic compounds like vinyl chloride and dichloromethane for PVC. When talking about acids, hydrochloric acid is also used to produce different organic compounds, inorganic compounds, and pharmaceutical products.
Sulphuric Acid
When talking about the uses of acids, it is not possible to not consider the uses of sulphuric acids.This particular acid is a very significant commodity chemical, and indeed, a nation producing sulfuric acid indicates its industrial strength.
One of the most common uses of sulphuric acids is it is consumed for fertilisers, specifically for superphosphates, ammonium sulphates, and ammonium phosphate. Around 20% of sulphuric acid is used in the chemical industry to produce synthetic resins, petroleum catalysts, detergents, insecticides, and in multiple processes like oil well acidizing, paper sizing, reducing aluminium, and treating water.
Approximately 6% of sulphuric acid is used in paints, enamels, coated fabrics, printing inks, etc.; now that the hydration of sulphuric acid is thermodynamically favourable and has a strong affinity for water, it is considered an excellent dehydrating agent.
Nitric Acid
Another name that comes in the list of acids used is nitric acid. Needless to say that nitric acid is a highly corrosive mineral acid, which makes it perfect to use as a potent oxidising agent. The main application of nitric acid is to produce fertilisers. Nitric acid is neutralised using ammonia to form ammonium nitrate and then only it is used for the production of fertilisers. Another primary use of nitric acid is in producing explosives, unique, organic compounds, and nylon precursors.
Conclusion
The acids are basically the molecule or other species that are capable of donating a proton or accepting an electron pair in reactions. Acids like sulphuric acid, nitric acid, citric acid, etc., are the most common acids used in industries and at home. Through this article, you will learn about what acids are, their properties, and their uses of acids in real life.
