3. Acids, Bases and Salts

Acids, bases and salts are important substances that play a major role in chemistry and everyday life. Acids are substances that usually have a sour taste and turn blue litmus paper red, while bases are substances that turn red litmus paper blue and feel slippery. When an acid reacts with a base, they neutralize each other and form salt and water, a reaction known as neutralization.

This lesson also introduces the pH scale, which helps us measure how acidic or basic a substance is. Students learn about common substances such as baking soda, washing soda, plaster of Paris, and bleaching powder, and how they are used in daily life. By studying acids, bases and salts, students understand how chemical substances influence agriculture, medicine, industry, and household activities.