How many types of Acids are there?

Acids are molecules or other organisms that can participate in processes by offering a proton or accepting an electron pair. The Latin word "acids," which signifies sour, is the root of the English term "acid." All acid elements share a few characteristics, such as their sour taste, the ability to turn blue litmus paper red, and the ability to lose their acidity when mixed with alkaline materials. Acids have a pH level that spans from 0 to 6.

Citrus fruits such as lemons, limes, oranges, and grapefruit are some typical examples of acids. These fruits are all packed with citric acid. They taste acidic or sour as a result. Although citric acid is a weak acid, it nevertheless forms hydrogen ions when combined with water, which is why lemon juice has a pH of 2. Vinegar is yet another example of an acid. Acetic acid is a component of vinegar. Ever wonder why your skin turns red and swells after being bitten by an ant or a mosquito? because the formic acid that these insects inject induces such skin responses. Nitric acid, sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, etc. are other common ones.

Properties Of Acids

The following are the characteristics of acids:

• Acids cause blue litmus to become red.

• Methyl Orange/Yellow is transformed into Pink.

• Phenolphthalein is changed by acidic chemicals from deep pink to colourless.

• Are sour or tangy in flavour, and their pH ranges from 0 to 6.

• When acids are coupled with alkaline, they become less acidic.

• They eliminate bases' chemical properties.

• They eliminate bases' chemical properties.

• They produce hydrogen gas when they interact with metals.

• When acids and carbonates react, carbon dioxide is produced.

• The majority of acids have corrosive properties, which implies that they frequently rust or corrode metals.

Classification Of Acids

Acids are frequently categorised according to their source, whether oxygen is present, their strength, concentration, and basicity.

Source-based classification

This implies that the source or origin of the acid determines how it is classed. They usually fall under the categories of organic acid and mineral acid.

Organic Acid: This is acid that is derived from living things like plants and animals. Citric acid (found in citrus fruits), acetic acid (in vinegar), oleic acid (in olive oil), etc. are a few examples.

Mineral Acid: Minerals are the source of mineral acid. They go by the name "inorganic acids" as well. They are devoid of carbon. Examples are H2SO4, HCl, NHO3 H_2 S O_4, HCl, HN O_3, etc.

Classification Based On Oxygen Content

This indicates that the presence of oxygen determines how the acids are categorised. These can be classified as either oxyacids or hydracids.

Oxy-acid: Acids that include oxygen in their chemical makeup are referred to as oxy-acids. H2SO4, HNO3 H_2 S O_4, HN O_3, etc., as examples.

Hydracids: These substances are classified as having no oxygen in their composition and consist only of hydrogen coupled with other elements. Examples include HCl, HI, HBr, etc.

Classification According To Acid Strength

Acids react with water to form hydrogen ions, and the quantity of hydrogen ions in a solution determines how strong an acid is. Greater acid strength is associated with more hydrogen ions, while lower acid strength is associated with fewer hydrogen ions. They are categorised as

Strong Acids: A strong acid is one that can almost entirely or completely dissociate in water. Sulfuric acid, nitric acid, hydrochloric acid, etc. are a few examples.

H^+ + H_2O \leftrightarrow H3O^+

HCl(aq) \leftrightarrow H^+(aq) + (SO_4)^- (aq)

H_2SO_4(aq) \leftrightarrow 2H^+(aq) + (SO_4)^- (aq)

Weak Acids: A weak acid is one that either doesn't completely dissolve in water or dissolves very little. Citric acid, acetic acid, and other substances that we typically ingest on a regular basis are just a few examples.

CH3COOH (aq) —-> H+ + CH3COO-(aq)

HCOO- (aq) + H+ ——> HCOOH (aq)

The number of hydrogen ions an acid produces in water determines its concentration, as we have already learned. In light of this, the acid is categorised as:

Concentrated Acid: Aqueous solutions that have a significant amount of acid dissolved in them are said to be concentrated acids. For instance, concentrated nitric acid, concentrated sulfuric acid, and concentrated hydrochloric acid

Diluted Acid: An aqueous solution is said to be dilute when only a small amount of acid has been dissolved in it. Diluted hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid, nitric acid, etc. are a few examples.

Classification According To Basic Of Acid

Hydrogen ions are created in water when acid dissociates. The basicity of an acid is determined by how many of these hydrogen ions can be replaced in it.

Monobasic Acid: An acid with just one hydrogen ion is said to be monobasic. As a result, salt and water are created when these acids react with the base's single hydroxyl group. HCl, HCOOH, HBr, etc., as examples.

Dibasic Acid: Dibasic acid is defined as having two or more hydroxyl groups in common. In two phases, dibasic acid dissociates. They are able to provide both regular salt and hydrogen salt, two different types of salts.

H2SO4(aq) <—> HSO-4 and H+(aq)

H2SO4(aq) + 2NaOH(aq) —> Na2SO4 + H2O (l)

Tribasic Acid: Acids that can mix with three hydroxyl groups are referred to as tribasic acids. They make three different kinds of salts and have three replaceable hydrogen ions.

H3PO4(aq) + 2NaOH(aq) — Na2HPO4(aq) with water (l)