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Recognizing Formulas
Recognizing Formulas of Acids and Bases
| With your knowledge of the interactions between H, O and other elements
you should be able to tell from the formula of some compounds whether they are acids or
bases. Those compounds are the ones that contain H, O and one other element. If that other
element is a metal, the compound probably will be basic. If that other element is a
nonmetal, the compound probably will be acidic. But keep in mind that not all acids and
bases contain oxygen. |
M = metal
X= nonmetal |
| MOH |
XOH
or
HXO |
| base |
acid |
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Also, note that ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH) is an important
exception to this generality. If you remember that ammonium hydroxide is an ionic compound
(two polyatomic ions) containing hydroxide ion it shouldn't be too hard to remember that
it is basic.
Practice (Ex. 28)
For practice, identify the chemicals listedbelow and in exercise 28 as
being acidic or basic. You can find the answers below.
 | KOH |
| HNO3 |
| NH4OH |
| Hydrated magnesium oxide (commonly known as Milk of Magnesia) |
| Hydrated carbon dioxide (found in carbonated beverages) |
Answers to Exercise 28
| KOH is a base.
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| HNO3 is an acid.
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| NH4OH is a base.
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| Hydrated magnesium oxide (commonly known as Milk of Magnesia) is a base.
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| Hydrated carbon dioxide (found in carbonated beverages) is an acid.
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If you missed any of those, please check with your instructor to get squared away.
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E-mail instructor:
Sue Eggling
Clackamas Community College
©1998, 2003 Clackamas Community College, Hal Bender
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