mass
amount
molar mass
concentration
solution volume
gas volume
molar gas volume
Avogadro
constant, L
number of
entities, N
P3. ACID-BASE NEUTRALIZATION REACTIONS
P3.9 Alkalis & Bases
N.B. A more detailed treatment may be required for post-GCSE courses - aspects of the Brønsted-Lowry or Lewis theories quite often need to be emphasized.
An ALAKLI is a soluble base – all alkalis are bases, therefore, but
not all bases are necessarily alkalis.
Alkalis generally posses the following properties.
1. they change moist litmus paper from red to blue
2. they are ELECTROLYTES
Many alkalis also have a soapy feel.
CAUTION Alkalis may be corrosive and poisonous,
e.g., sodium hydroxide, NaOH, is often called caustic soda and both it and aqueous ammonia are toxic at relatively low dosages.
EYES are particularly vulnerable to contact with alkalis and, as always, when working with them, wearing appropriate eye protection is crucial.
Most bases are oxides, hydroxides or carbonates of metals.
