Examples of acids, bases and salts in everyday life

We use acids, bases and salts in everyday life. These chemical compounds are an essential part of our life. We will discuss various examples of acids, bases and salts that are used in daily life.

Substances we use can be classified into three categories – acids, bases and salts. These substances have specific chemical properties and characteristics.

Examples of acids, bases and salts

We will discuss examples of acids, bases and salts with their uses

Examples of acids in everyday life

An acid tastes sour, and corrosive and changes blue litmus to red.

Following are some mineral acids, and acids from plants and animals.

   1.  Hydrochloric acid

   i. Present in gastric juice and helps in digestion.

   ii. Used as cleaners

   iii. Used as masonry cleaners

   iv. Used in industries

    2.  Carbonic acid

    i.   Used in soft drinks

    ii. Club soda

    3.  Sulphuric acid (king of acid)

    i.    Used in batteries

    ii.  Present in acid rain

    iii. In air pollutant mist

    4.  Acetic acid 

    i.    In cooking 

    ii.  As preservative

    iii In vinegar

    5.  Citric acid

     i.   Fruit juices

     ii. As preservative

   

    6.  Lactic acid

     i.   Present in curd 

     ii. Build up in muscles during exercise

    7. Ascorbic acid

     i.   In vitamin C 

     ii.  Antioxidant

    iii. Fruit juice and soft drinks

    8.  Tartaric acid

     i.  In making baking powder

    9.  Oxalic acid 

    i. Found in some vegetables

    ii.  As a cleaning agent

   10.  Methanolic acid

Examples   of bases in everyday life

Bases are bitter in taste, and corrosive and change red litmus to blue.

   1.  Sodium hydroxide

   i.  In making soap and detergents 

   ii.  In textile industries

   iii. As a cleaner

   2.  Calcium hydroxide

    i.  Used in whitewashing

    ii. Used in industries

   3.  Ammonium hydroxide

    i.       As laboratory reagents

    ii.   Window cleaner

    iii. In other cleaning solutions

    4.  Potassium hydroxide

    i.  In making soft soaps and detergents

   5.  Sodium phosphate

    i.  Used in detergents

    6.  Baking soda

    i.    Used in the kitchen

    ii. Mild cleaner

    7.  Washing soda

    i.  Used in soap and washing powder

    8.  Magnesium hydroxide

     i.    It is a mild base used as a laxative and antacid

Examples of salts in everyday life

Salts are ionic compounds having two parts, one part is positive and the other is negative. Basically, three types of salts are found- natural salt, acidic salt and basic salt.

    1.  Common salt or table salt

     It is sodium chloride used in cooking, it enhance the taste of food and is used as a preservative.

   2.  Ammonium chloride

    i.    Used in industries

    ii.    In medicines

    iii.   In batteries

    iv.  As laboratory reagents

    3.  Potassium chloride

    i.    In fertilizers

    ii.    Can be used as table salt for high blood pressure patients

   iii.   Water softening treatment

   4.  Copper sulphate

   i.     Used in agriculture as fungicides and algaecides

   ii.  In water treatment

   iii. In electroplating

 

 

So, these are examples of acids, bases and salts in everyday life

MCQs

1.  Which acid is generally used in batteries?

a) Carbonic acid

b) Hydrochloric acid

c) Sulphuric acid

d) Acetic acid

 

2. Name the  base which is used in making soap and detergents?

a) Sodium hydroxide

b) Calcium hydroxide

c) Ammonium hydroxide

d) Potassium hydroxide

 

3. What is the main use of common salt (NaCl)?

a) Used in cooking

b) Used as a cleaner

c) Used in textile industries

d) Used in water treatment

 

4. Which salt is  used in agriculture?

a) Sodium chloride

b) Ammonium chloride

c) Calcium hydroxide

d) Copper sulphate

 

5. Which acid  is used as a preservative?

a) Acetic  acid

b) Lactic acid

c) Ascorbic acid

d) Tartaric acid

 

Answers:

 

1. c) Sulphuric acid

2. a) Sodium hydroxide

3. a) Used in cooking

4.d) Copper sulphate

5. a) Acetic acid

Quiz  on acids, bases and salts for class 10

FAQs

1. Acids, bases and salts are examples of what compounds?

Ans. – Acids, bases and slats are chemical compounds that produce ions in water.

2. How to identify acids, bases and salts?

Ans. – Acids turn blue litmus red, bases turn red litmus blue and salts don’t change the colour of litmus.

3.  What is the role of hydrochloric acid in the stomach?

Answer: Hydrochloric acid helps in digestion.

 

4.  Name an acid that is used as a preservative in food?

Answer: Acetic acid is used as a preservative.

 

5.  Which base is used in making soap and detergents?

Answer: Sodium hydroxide.