Chemistry • Year 11 • Module 3 • Lesson 5

Acid-Base & Acid-Carbonate Reactions

Lock in the core vocabulary, reaction-type recognition, salt identification rules, and the SWC mnemonic before tackling exam questions.

Build • Vocab & Recall

1. Term–definition match

Write the matching term from this list into the right-hand column. Terms: acid, base, alkali, neutralisation, salt, net ionic equation, carbonate, acid-carbonate reaction, SWC products, Arrhenius definition. 10 marks (1 each)

#DefinitionMatching term
1.1A substance that produces H+ ions in water (Arrhenius) or donates a proton (Brønsted-Lowry).
1.2A substance that produces OH ions in water (Arrhenius) or accepts a proton (Brønsted-Lowry).
1.3A soluble base that forms OH ions in water; e.g. NaOH, Ca(OH)2.
1.4The reaction between an acid and a base: acid + base → salt + water.
1.5An ionic compound formed from the cation of a base and the anion of an acid.
1.6Shows only the ions that actually change during a reaction; spectator ions are removed.
1.7An ion with the formula CO32−; its presence leads to the formation of CO2 gas when treated with acid.
1.8Acid + carbonate → salt + water + CO2(g); three products always formed.
1.9The memory aid that lists the three fixed products of every acid-carbonate reaction: Salt, Water, Carbon dioxide.
1.10The model proposed in 1884 stating that acids produce H+ and bases produce OH in water.
Stuck? Revisit the Key Terms panel and Cards 1–2 in the lesson.

2. True or false, with correction

Circle T or F. If false, write the corrected statement on the line. 10 marks (1 T/F + 1 correction)

2.1 The net ionic equation for any strong acid reacting with any strong base is H+(aq) + OH(aq) → H2O(l).    T  /  F

2.2 When an acid reacts with a carbonate, CO(g) is produced as the gaseous carbon product.    T  /  F

2.3 The salt formed when HCl reacts with NaOH is NaCl (sodium chloride).    T  /  F

2.4 Mylanta (active ingredient: Mg(OH)2) produces CO2 gas when it neutralises stomach acid.    T  /  F

2.5 The anion of the salt in any neutralisation reaction always comes from the base.    T  /  F

Stuck? Review the formula panel and antacid cards in the lesson.

3. Identify the salt and reaction type

For each acid-base pair, state (a) the reaction type, (b) the name and formula of the salt formed, and (c) one other product. Do not write the balanced equation yet, just identify. 12 marks (2 each)

3.1 HNO3(aq) + KOH(aq) →

(a) Reaction type:

(b) Salt name and formula:

(c) Other product(s):

3.2 H2SO4(aq) + Ca(OH)2(aq) →

(a) Reaction type:

(b) Salt name and formula:

(c) Other product(s):

3.3 HCl(aq) + CaCO3(s) →

(a) Reaction type:

(b) Salt name and formula:

(c) Other product(s):

3.4 HNO3(aq) + Na2CO3(aq) →

(a) Reaction type:

(b) Salt name and formula:

(c) Other product(s):

3.5 HCl(aq) + NaHCO3(aq) →

(a) Reaction type:

(b) Salt name and formula:

(c) Other product(s):

3.6 H2SO4(aq) + 2NaOH(aq) →

(a) Reaction type:

(b) Salt name and formula:

(c) Other product(s):

Rule: cation from base (or carbonate), anion from acid. HCl → chloride; H2SO4 → sulfate; HNO3 → nitrate.

4. Cloze, fill the blank

Complete the paragraph using the word bank. Each term is used once only. 8 marks (1 per blank)

Word bank: neutralisation • salt • water • CO2 • spectator • SWC • H+ • OH

When an acid reacts with a base, the process is called _______________ (1). The H+ ion from the acid combines with the _______________ (2) ion from the base to form _______________ (3). The remaining ions form a _______________ (4). Because the Na+ and Cl ions in, say, HCl + NaOH do not change during the reaction, they are called _______________ (5) ions and are removed from the net ionic equation. The universal net ionic form is therefore _______________ (6) + OH → H2O.

When acid meets a carbonate, the mnemonic _______________ (7) lists the three products: salt, water, and _______________ (8) gas.

Stuck? Re-read the formula panel at the top of the lesson.

5. Build a concept map

Draw labelled arrows between the five terms below to show how they connect. Each arrow must carry a linking phrase (e.g. "produces", "is a type of", "reacts with"). Aim for at least 5 labelled arrows. 5 marks

Supplied terms: acidbasesaltcarbonateCO2.

acid
base
salt
carbonate
CO2
Start with: acid + base produces salt; acid + carbonate produces salt + CO2; carbonate contains CO32− so is a type of base.
Answers, Do not peek before attempting

Q1, Term-definition matches

1.1 acid • 1.2 base • 1.3 alkali • 1.4 neutralisation • 1.5 salt • 1.6 net ionic equation • 1.7 carbonate • 1.8 acid-carbonate reaction • 1.9 SWC products • 1.10 Arrhenius definition.

Q2, True / false with correction

2.1 True. H+(aq) + OH(aq) → H2O(l) is universal for all strong acid-strong base reactions.

2.2 False. Correction: The gas produced is CO2 (carbon dioxide), not CO. The carbon in CO32− is already at oxidation state +4, so only CO2 is possible.

2.3 True. Na+ (from base) + Cl (from acid) = NaCl.

2.4 False. Correction: Mg(OH)2 is a hydroxide base, not a carbonate. It undergoes neutralisation (acid + base → salt + water) and produces NO CO2.

2.5 False. Correction: The anion of the salt comes from the acid, not the base. The cation comes from the base.

Q3, Salt identification

3.1 (a) Neutralisation. (b) Potassium nitrate, KNO3. (c) Water, H2O(l).

3.2 (a) Neutralisation. (b) Calcium sulfate, CaSO4. (c) Water, H2O(l).

3.3 (a) Acid-carbonate reaction. (b) Calcium chloride, CaCl2. (c) Water, H2O(l) and carbon dioxide, CO2(g).

3.4 (a) Acid-carbonate reaction. (b) Sodium nitrate, NaNO3. (c) Water, H2O(l) and carbon dioxide, CO2(g).

3.5 (a) Acid-hydrogen carbonate reaction. (b) Sodium chloride, NaCl. (c) Water, H2O(l) and carbon dioxide, CO2(g).

3.6 (a) Neutralisation. (b) Sodium sulfate, Na2SO4. (c) Water, H2O(l).

Q4, Cloze answers

(1) neutralisation • (2) OH • (3) water • (4) salt • (5) spectator • (6) H+ • (7) SWC • (8) CO2.

Q5, Sample concept map

Acceptable labelled arrows include:

  • acidreacts withbaseto producesalt
  • acidreacts withcarbonateto producesalt
  • carbonatewhen reacting with acid releasesCO2
  • carbonateis a type ofbase
  • basedoes not produceCO2 (distinguishing arrow)

Award 1 mark per correctly labelled arrow that respects causal direction. Five arrows required for full marks.