Acids and bases in everyday life reactions, uses, examples

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Basil Manning

The acids and bases in everyday life They are those that are present in a myriad of commercial products or in the food we consume. They are identified either by their sour or soapy flavors, or by their ability to change the colors of litmus paper..

Most of the acids and bases that we encounter on a daily basis are from Bronsted-Lowry; that is, they can donate or accept H protons+, respectively. Acids have OH groups from which these H are released+, while bases donate OH ions- and neutralize the acids with which they come in contact.

Cleaning products are basic mixtures that help degrease surfaces. Source: Meganbeckett27 [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]

Acids and bases are found in the composition of practically all commercial products. Separately, the pH can be measured and the degree of acidity discovered. Thus, soaps and cleaning products are at the basic end, while milk, citrus, and grapes are at the acid end..

Their reactions are identical to those of any Bronsted-Lowry acid or base..

Article index

  • 1 Reactions
    • 1.1 - Acids
    • 1.2 - Bases
  • 2 Uses and examples
    • 2.1 - Acids
    • 2.2 - Bases
  • 3 References

Reactions

- Acids

Reaction with metals

Acids can react with transition metals, creating a salt and releasing hydrogen (Htwo). There is release of hydrogen if the metal is located to the left of hydrogen in the electrochemical series of metals:

2 Zn + 2 HCl => ZnCltwo   +   Htwo

Reaction with carbonate

Acids react with carbonate, forming a salt, water, and releasing carbon dioxide:

NatwoCO3   +   HCl => NaCl + COtwo    +   HtwoOR

Reaction with metal oxides

Acids react with metal oxides, creating a salt and water:

NatwoO + HtwoSW4  => NatwoSW4    +    HtwoOR

Reaction with metal sulphides

Acids combine with metal sulfides to form a salt and hydrogen sulfide:

FeS + HCl => FeCltwo     +   HtwoS

Esterification

In the esterification process, an acid reacts with an alcohol to form an ester and water..

CH3CHtwoOH + HCOOH => HCOOCHtwoCH3    +    HtwoOR

- Bases

Neutralization reaction

An acid reacts with a base to form a salt and water. Therefore, this type of reaction involves acids and bases:

NaOH + HCl => NaCl + HtwoOR

Reaction with metals

Sodium hydroxide reacts with some metals, such as zinc (Zn), aluminum (Al), and titanium (Ti). In the case of aluminum, the reaction produces sodium tetrahydroxoaluminate and hydrogen, being a method to prepare hydrogen for use in hot air balloons:

2 Al + 2 NaOH + 6 HtwoO => 2 Na [Al (OH)4] + 3 Htwo

Reaction with phosphorus

Sodium hydroxide reacts with phosphorus to form sodium hypophosphate (NaHtwoPOtwo) and phosphine (PH3).

Reaction with sulfur

Sodium hydroxide reacts with sulfur, producing sodium sulfite (NatwoSW3), sodium sulfide (NatwoS) and water.

Saponification reaction

Sodium hydroxide and / or potassium hydroxide are capable of hydrolyzing the fatty material to produce soap and glycerin. A soap is the sodium or potassium salt of fatty acid derivatives.

Uses and examples

- Acids

Acetic acid

In diluted form it is used as a salad dressing. It is also used in the preservation of food.

Phosphoric acid

It is one of the components added to soft drinks.

Acetylsalicylic acid

It is used as an analgesic and antipyretic.

Retinoic acid

It is applied topically to inhibit keratination. It is also used in the treatment of certain types of acne.

Sulfuric acid

It is used in motor vehicle batteries.

Benzoic acid

It is used in the preservation of food. Its use is suitable in mayonnaise and canned products, sometimes appearing as sodium benzoate, salt of benzoic acid..

Propionic acid

It is a food preservative compound. It works by preventing contamination with fungi and bacteria.

Carbonic acid

It is used in soft drinks and carbonated waters, generating the effervescence of these drinks. However, carbonic acid does not exist as such, since it is in equilibrium with carbon dioxide and water. It is also used in the production of dry ice.

Allylic acid

Present in vegetables such as garlic and onion. It is a derivative of allicin. This acid has germicidal and antioxidant action.

Citric acid

It is used as a food additive, it has a role as a preservative, antioxidant and flavoring for sweets and soft drinks. It is also used in the pharmaceutical industry to produce effervescence and as an anticoagulant agent..

In addition, it is added to detergents and cleaning products to stabilize them and replace corrosive products..

Citric acid is present in metabolic processes of great importance; such is the case of the Krebs Cycle or Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle.

Likewise, it is present in numerous fruits such as lemon, orange, grapefruit, etc., which is why these fruits are called citrus.

Hydrochloric acid

It is used in the elimination of metal oxides and limestone residues and other compounds in the bathrooms of homes..

Gastric juice has a concentration of 0.1 M HCl and a pH close to 1. Hydrochloric acid is secreted by the parietal cells of the gastric wall and constitutes a medium for the action of pepsin, an enzyme that initiates the digestion of cells. ingested protein.

Ascorbic acid

It is an enantiomer of vitamin C. This vitamin is an antioxidant that contributes to the elimination of free radicals. In addition, it intervenes in the growth and repair of body tissues, contributing to the healing of wounds and the formation of scar tissue.

Vitamin C is used regularly in the treatment of the common cold; and although it seems that it does not exert any therapeutic action, it does so preventively.

- Bases

Copper hydroxide

Mixed with latex it is used to control and improve the growth of potted plants..

Ammonia

It is used in household cleaning.

Sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide

They are used in the unclogging of pipes, since they react with fats and dissolve them when producing their saponification.

Magnesium hydroxide (milk of magnesia) and aluminum hydroxide

They are antacids that are used together in heartburn, acid indigestion and stomach upset in patients with peptic ulcer, gastritis, esophagitis and hiatal hernia.

Calcium hydroxide

It is used in the repair of caries, necessary to restore the protection of the dental pulp.

References

  1. Whitten, Davis, Peck & Stanley. (2008). Chemistry. (8th ed.). CENGAGE Learning.
  2. Encyclopedia of Examples (2019). Acids and bases. Recovered from: examples.co
  3. Emily V. Eames. (June 16, 2018). Acid-Base Reactions. Chemistry LibreTexts. Recovered from: chem.libretexts.org
  4. StudiousGuy. (2019). Acids and Bases We Use In Everyday Life. Recovered from: studiousguy.com
  5. Anthony Carpi, Ph.D… (2019). Acids and Bases: An Introduction. Recovered from: visionlearning.com

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