Acids
What is an acid?
An acid is a chemical compound which is soluble in water, tastes sour and turns blue litmus paper pink.
Acids neutralize bases.
Acids may be divided into two groups, strong acids and weak acids.
WEAK ACIDS
Many weaks acids occur naturally in foods and can be eaten. A list of food acids is shown in the table below.
Common food acids.
| Food acid | Food |
| Citric acid | Citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, limes and mandarins. |
| Lactic acid | Fermented milk products like yogurt, buttermilk and sour cream. |
| Malic acid | Green appes and grapes |
| Tartaric acid | Grapes and wines |
| Acetic acid | Vinegar |
Some weak acids like oxalic acid which is found in plants is poisonous in high concentrations and should not be eaten. Oxalic acid is used in some bleaching and cleaning products.
STRONG ACIDS
Strong acids are corrosive and should not be tasted. They react with active metals like magnesium, zinc and iron to produce hydrogen gas.
| Name | Chemical formula | Common use of acid |
| Hydrochloric acid | HCl | Used to clean mortar of bricks and to lower the pH of swimming pools |
| Sulfuric acid | H2SO4 | Used in lead acid automobile batteries and in industry as a catalyst and a dehydrating agent. |
| Nitric acid | HNO3 | Used int eh manufacture of fertilizer and explosives. |
SALTS OF ACIDS
When acids react with substances they produce salts. Salts are composed of a metal and non-metallic component which comes from the acid.
Hydrochloric acids produce chloride salts. eg. sodium chloride, NaCl
Nitric acids produce nitrate salts. eg. potassium nitrate, KNO3
Sulfuric acid produces sulfate salts. eg. Magnesium sulfate, MgSO4
REACTIONS OF ACIDS
The reaction of acids can be classified into three types of general reactions.
The first reaction is called a neutralization reaction.
1. Acid + Base => Salt + Water
Hydrochloric acid + sodium hydroxide => sodium chloride + water
HCl + NaOH => NaCl + H2O
2. Acid + Carbonate => Salt + Carbon Dioxide + Water
Nitric acid + sodium hydrogen carbonate => sodium nitrate + carbon dioxide + water
HNO3 + NaHCO3 => NaNO3 + CO2 + H2O
3. Acid + Active metal => Salt + Hydrogen gas
Magnesium + sulfuric acid => magnesium sulfate + hydrogen
Mg + H2SO4 =>MgSO4 + H2
Acids always produce salts when they react.