ACIDS

The origin of the word acid came from latin word, acidus
(sour). Acids relate with the reaction of one of our senses to
sour taste. Acids can be defined as compound that produce
hydrogen ion (H+) in liquid solution.

Acids can be classified into organic acids and mineral

acids. Organic acids can be found in natural matters such as
animals and plants. Citric acids and lactid acid are examples of
organic acid. Mineral acids are formed from mineral with
chemical reactions. The examples of artificial acids are
hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, and nitric acid.

1.Properties of Acid

a. Acids have Sour Taste

Some types of acids and its sources

No Name Source
.
1. Citric acid Oranges
2. Tartaric acid Grapes
3. Malic acid Apples
4. Formic acid Ants
5. Hydrochloride acid Stomach
6. Lactic acid Fermented milk
 7. Etanoic acid Vinegar
8. Tanic acid Tea
9. Carbonate acid Carbonate drinks

b.Acids Change Blue Litmus Paper Into Red

c.Acid React with Metal to Produce Hydrogen Gas

d.Acids React with Calcium Carbonate to Produce Carbon

Dioxide Gas

e.It Conduct Electricity

2.Acids Strenght

a.Strong Acids

Strong acids are acids which contain ions on its solution.

The examples of strong acids are sulfuric acid, hydrochloride
acid, and nitric acid.

The property of strong acids is corrosive or damaging. A

drop of strong acid can cause a hole in a shirt. So you’d better
be careful with strong acids, because it will caused a serious
wound if your skin is infected with the acid. At a glance,
strong acid solution appears just like water and it is quite
difficult to differentiate between acid and water.

b.Weak Acids
 That’s because the acids in the foods or beverages are
weak acids. Acetic acid in vinegar, citric acid in orange, malic
acid in apple, and lactic acid in yoghurt are the examples of
weak acids. Some weak acids are important nutritions for your
body, like ascorbic acid (vitamins C) and folic acid (vitamins B).

3.Roles of Acids in Life

Acids are important substances in chemistry. Acids can

be found widely in the universe, industrial field, and the
house. The followings are some roles of acids in life.

Name Strong/Weak Usage

Nitric acid strong The materials for
making fertilizers
and explosives
Sulphuric acid Strong To fill the car
storage battery
Hydrochlorid Strong To clean coppers for
e acid human body
Ascorbic acid Weak Important nutrition
for human body
Benzoic acid Weak Food’s preservatives
Acetil Weak The medicine for
salicylic acid headache/pain killer

4.Acid Rain
 Although compound is a very important acid, it can also
caused many damages because of its corrosive property. One
of them is the phenomenon of acid rain which caused some
serious environmental problems.

Industrial activities emit many polluting gas, like sulphur

oxide and nitrogen oxide. Those gas are dissolved in rain
water which contain acid comes to earth in the from of acid
rain. Acid rain destruct so many things, such as bridges,
buildings made from cements, statues, even the life of living
creatures.