An alkali is a base that is soluble in water. Sodium hydroxide, calcium carbonate and limewater are all examples of alkalis. Copper oxide is a base, but it is not an alkali because it does not dissolve in water.
Chemical substances that do not have the properties of acids or bases are described as neutral substances.
? TEST TUBE
3. Name: a. two acidic substances
b. two basic substances The pH scale
A concentrated acid or alkali is nearly always corrosive. So, to use an acid or alkali safely, it is important to know how concentrated it is. To record how acidic or alkaline a solution is, scientists use the pH scale.
4. Draw the symbol used to show that a substance is corrosive.
5. Describe how you would handle corrosive substances safely in the school laboratory.
invented a drinkable form of magnesium hydroxide as a remedy for stomach pain. He was knighted in 1833 after becoming the personal doctor to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whom he had successfully treated with his invention. Murray’s product is still sold worldwide under the name ‘Milk of Magnesia’.
:Fig. 22.3 Sir James Murray
SAFETY • Sodium hydroxide is a corrosive base and must always be handled with care.
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1 Highly acidic :Fig. 22.4 The pH scale Elements of Science 213