Acids, Bases and Salts

What this page covers

The resources here follow acids, bases and salts from first ideas to more detailed work. Early material deals with taste, the pH scale and indicators. The mind map Acids & Alkalis explains that pH measures how acidic or alkaline a solution is, with a neutral substance such as water in the middle. Later material moves to Bronsted-Lowry definitions, conjugate pairs, buffers, acid-base equilibria and titration.

Where to start

Begin with the basics. The Acids and Alkalis Quiz asks which foods are acidic, which substance has the lowest pH and what happens to pH when acid is added to base. Then read the mind map Acids and Bases, which lists sources such as vinegar, citrus fruits and fizzy drinks.

Next, look at reactions. The mind map Acids, Bases and Salts sets out acid + metal and acid + base reactions. The Making Salts Flow Chart asks whether a salt is soluble, then shows how to make it by precipitation or by other routes. Test yourself with the Preparation of Salts Quiz, which describes a method for making copper(II) sulfate crystals.

Using quizzes and maps together

1. Read a mind map and cover the branches you can recall.
2. Take a quiz on the same idea.
3. Return to the map for any question you missed.
4. Use a flashcard deck for definitions and formulas.

Going further

Some resources suit older school students. The mind map OCR A2 Chemistry Acids covers Bronsted-Lowry acids and bases and conjugate pairs. The mind map Volumetric Analysis describes an EDTA titration with an end point that changes from red to blue. The flowchart titration process explains how to choose a primary standard. Among the listed resources are some that mention GCSE, IGCSE, A-level, IB and HSC courses, so look for the one that matches yours.

Where it fits

This unit sits in the strand Chemical Reactions and Quantities within Chemistry. Teachers can pick a mind map or slide set to share with a class. Open a unit resource that suits you and try a few questions today.