Acids, Bases and Salts

C8.1 The characteristic properties of acids and bases 1 Describe neutrality and relative acidity and alkalinity in terms of pH (whole numbers only) measured using universal indicator 2 Describe the characteristic properties of acids (exemplified by dilute hydrochloric acid and dilute sulfuric acid) including their effect on litmus paper and their reactions with metals, bases and carbonates 3 Describe the characteristic properties of bases including their effect on litmus paper and their reactions with acids and ammonium salts 4 Describe and explain the importance of controlling acidity in soil 5 Define acids and bases in terms of proton (H+) transfer, limited to aqueous solutions C8.2 Types of oxides 1 Classify oxides as either acidic or basic, related to metallic and non-metallic character 2 Further classify other oxides as neutral or amphoteric C8.3 Preparation of salts 1 Describe the preparation, separation and purification of salts using techniques specified in Section C2 and the reactions specified in Section C8.1 2 Suggest a method of making a given salt from suitable starting material, given appropriate information, including precipitation C8.4 Identification of ions and gases 1 Describe and use the following tests to identify: aqueous cations: ammonium, calcium, copper(II), iron(II), iron(III) and zinc, using aqueous sodium hydroxide and aqueous ammonia as appropriate (formulae of complex ions are not required) cations: Flame tests to identify lithium, sodium, potassium and copper(II) anions: carbonate (by reaction with dilute acid and then limewater), chloride and bromide (by reaction under acidic conditions with aqueous silver nitrate), nitrate (by reduction with aluminium) and sulfate (by reaction under acidic conditions with aqueous barium ions) gases: ammonia (using damp red litmus paper), carbon dioxide (using limewater), chlorine (using damp litmus paper), hydrogen (using a lighted splint), oxygen (using a glowing splint)