Acid Reactions
There are general equations that are also essential to understand the products of the reactions of acids. All of these equations describe circumstances when the acids are neutralized by reacting with the chemical:
- Metal + Acids --> salt + hydrogen gas (H2)
- Acids + Base --> salt + water (H2O)
- Acids + Carbonate --> salt + water (H2O) + Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
- ***Note, all of these reactions create neutral substances as products because all salts are neutral and same with CO2 and H2O.
- Any acid that ends with Cl is a chloride
- Any acid that ends with SO4 is a sulfate
- Any acid that ends with NO3 is a nitride
- When the acid is reacting with a metal, the salt’s positive element is the simply the metal and then the negative element of the salt is that acid’s family whichever family the acid is in.
- For example, Mg + HCl --> MgCl + H2
- See how the Cl is brought over to the salt’s ending and the Mg is brought over to the salt’s beginning. This salt is magnesium chloride.
- For example, Mg + HCl --> MgCl + H2
- When the acid is reacting with the base, the salt’s positive element is the base’s positive element and then the negative element of the salt is that acid’s family whichever family the acid is in.
- For example: HNO3 + NaOH --> NaO3 + H2O
- See how the NO3 is brought over to the salt’s ending and the Na is brought over to the salt’s beginning. This salt is sodium nitride.
- For example: HNO3 + NaOH --> NaO3 + H2O
- When the acid is reacting with a carbonate, the salt’s positive component is the carbonate’s positive component or element and then the negative element of the salt is that acid’s family whichever family the acid is in.
- For example: H2SO4 + CaCO3 --> CaSO4 + H2O + CO2
- See how the SO4 is brought over to the salt’s ending and the Ca is brought over to the salt’s beginning. This salt is Calcium Sulfide.
- For example: H2SO4 + CaCO3 --> CaSO4 + H2O + CO2
- HCl= Hydrochloric Acid
- H2SO4= Sulfuric Acid
- HNO3= Nitric Acid
- During an acid reaction with a metal, the name of the metal on the reactants side is simply the name of the element. On the products side, the name of the salt is simply the metal and then the name of the family of acid that is in the reaction.
- Example: Mg + H2SO4--> MgSO4 + H2 the equation is equivalent to Magnesium + Sulfuric Acid--> Magnesium Sulfate + Hydrogen gas
- Note that the metal is simply the name of the metal's element. Then the salt is the name of the metal and then the name of the family of the acid in the reaction.
- Also note that the equation follow the rules about what an acid reaction with a metal yields: salt and H2 (Hydrogen gas)
- During an acid reaction with a base, the name of the base is the name of the element and then oxide. Then the salt is the first element of the base and then the acid's family.
- Example: NaOH+ HCl --> NaCl + H2O the equation is equivalent to Sodium hydroxide + Hydrochloric Acid --> Sodium Chloride + Water
- Note that the base is the name of the element and then the word oxide. Then the salt is the name of the same element and then the family of the acid that is in the reaction.
- Also note that the equation follows the rules about what an acid reaction with a base yields: salt + H2O.
- Also note that NaOH is a base. We know this because bases are created by the combination of metal oxide and water, as explained before. As a result, we know that any metal oxide is a base.
- Example: NaOH+ HCl --> NaCl + H2O the equation is equivalent to Sodium hydroxide + Hydrochloric Acid --> Sodium Chloride + Water
- During an acid reaction with a carbonate, the name of the carbonate is simply the element's name and then the word carbonate. Then the salt is the name of the element and then the name of the family of the acid that is in the reaction.
- Example: CaCO3 + HNO3 --> CaNO3 + CO2 + H2O the equation is equivalent to Calcium Carbonate + Nitric Acid --> Calcium Nitrate + Carbon Dioxide + Water
- Note that the carbonate is the name of the element and then the word carbonate. Then the salt is the name of the same element and then the family of acid that is in the reaction.
- Also note that the equation follows the rules about what an acid reaction with a carbonate yields: salt + CO2 and H2O.
- Example: CaCO3 + HNO3 --> CaNO3 + CO2 + H2O the equation is equivalent to Calcium Carbonate + Nitric Acid --> Calcium Nitrate + Carbon Dioxide + Water
- Example: Mg + H2SO4--> MgSO4 + H2 the equation is equivalent to Magnesium + Sulfuric Acid--> Magnesium Sulfate + Hydrogen gas