Discuss how concentrated acids and bases should be handled safely. Distinguish between dilute and concentrated solutions of an acid.
Acids
A common belief is that every acid is dangerous to touch. However, we come into contact with many harmless acids in our everyday lives.
Common everyday acids include: z z
zz zz zz zz
Ethanoic acid: found in the vinegar we use to flavour our food. Citric acid: found in citrus fruits, such as lemons and limes. Ascorbic acid: found in oranges and kiwi fruits. Tannic acid: found in tea.
Carbonic acid: found in fizzy drinks.
Common laboratory acids include: zz
zz
Hydrochloric acid (HCl): also found in our stomachs to aid food digestion.
Sulfuric acid (H2SO4): found in car batteries.
The acids you use in the laboratory are dangerous. So you must be careful when handling them.
z Fig. 13.1.1 Citrus fruits contain citric acid Aqua regia (Latin for ‘royal water’) is a Fun Fact
mixture of concentrated hydrochloric acid and nitric acid. It is so strong that it can dissolve gold!
When Germany invaded Denmark during World War II, the chemist George de Hevesy used aqua regia to dissolve the gold Nobel Prize medals of physicists Max von Laue and James Franck, so that the Nazis could not steal them. The gold/acid solution was ignored by the Nazis, who thought it was just another chemical. When the war ended, the gold was made back into medals and they were given back to von Laue and Franck.
13.1 Key Words
Acid Base Alkali Neutral
Concentrated Dilute
‘Acid’
The word ‘acid’ comes from the Latin word acidus, meaning ‘sour’. Our taste buds are designed to detect sour tastes.
