Acids and Bases

Chlorosulphuric acid (HSO₃Cl) is a distillable, colourless liquid that should be handled with care. It is a hygroscopic and a powerful lachrymator. It is used to prepare sulphonic acids, which are useful in detergents and as chemical intermediates.

Aspirin's chemical name is acetylsalicylic acid. It is derived from salicylic acid and works by inhibiting the production of prostaglandins, which are responsible for pain, inflammation, and fever.

All acids contain hydrogen ions (H+) as the essential component that defines acidic behavior. When acids dissolve in water, they release H+ ions which are responsible for characteristic acidic properties like sour taste and ability to turn litmus red. Carbon, oxygen, and sulfur are not universal components of all acids.

Phosphorous acid (H₃PO₃): Diprotic acid Pyrophosphorus acid (H₄P₂O₅): Diprotic acid

The nature (pH) of urine is acidic as uric acid is found in it, and it imparts acidic character to urine. Uric acid is an organic acid, which reacts with strong alkali to form urate ion. The urine so formed is a light yellow coloured watery fluid, which is slightly acidic (pH 6.0) and has a characteristic odour.

When oxalic acid is heated, it decomposes through decarboxylation to form formic acid (HCOOH) and carbon dioxide. This is a well-known thermal decomposition reaction. Acetic acid, sulfuric acid, and ethanoic acid (another name for acetic acid) are not products of this reaction.

Many ant species, particularly formicine ants, produce and contain formic acid (methanoic acid, HCOOH) in their venom glands, which they use for defense, subduing prey, and communication. Benzoic acid is found in some plants like cranberries. Acetic acid is the main component of vinegar, not ant venom.

Carbolic acid is the common name for phenol (C6H5OH). Phenyl is the C6H5- group, benzene is C6H6, and benzoic acid is C6H5COOH. The -OH group attached directly to the benzene ring gives phenol its acidic properties.

Acetic acid (CH3COOH) is a weak acid because it only partially ionizes in water. Strong acids like HCl or H2SO4 completely dissociate, but acetic acid exists in equilibrium with its conjugate base. The Ka value of acetic acid is approximately 1.8 x 10^-5, confirming its weak acid nature.

Vinegar contains approximately 5-8% acetic acid by volume. Acetic acid gives vinegar its characteristic sour taste and pungent odor. Formic acid is found in ant venom, oxalic acid in spinach and rhubarb, and ascorbic acid is vitamin C.

Lemons are sour due to the presence of citric acid, which makes up about 5-6% of their dry weight. Citric acid is a weak organic acid that gives citrus fruits their characteristic tart flavor. Nucleic acids are DNA/RNA, acetic acid is in vinegar, and ascorbic acid is vitamin C.

Acetic acid is slightly ionized in aqueous solution because it is a weak acid. Only about 1% of acetic acid molecules dissociate into H+ and CH3COO- ions in water. Strong acids are completely ionized, while non-ionized substances do not dissociate at all.

Gold does not react with citric acid as it is the least reactive metal.

This option is correct because pyruvic acid is treated with Na-Hg/H2O to form lactic acid. It is found in curd, which is beneficial for human beings.

Vinegar contains approximately 5-8% acetic acid by volume, which gives it its characteristic sour taste and pungent smell. Acetic acid is produced through the fermentation of ethanol by acetic acid bacteria, converting alcohol into this weak organic acid.