Preparation of Acids and Bases

Abhishek Raj
Deputy Manager (R&D)
Quest Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd, Chhata Pipara, Bara, Birgunj, Nepal.
abhishekraj4@gmail.com

Acid
An acid is a chemical substance whose aqueous solutions are characterized by a sour taste. It has
the ability to turn blue litmus to red and the ability to react with bases and certain metals (like
calcium) to form salts. Aqueous solutions of acids have a pH of less than 7. Chemicals or
substances having the property of an acid are said to be acidic.
A strong acid is one that completely dissociates in water. Examples of strong acids are
hydrochloric acid (HCl), Hydroiodic acid (HI), hydrobromic acid (HBr), perchloric acid
(HClO4), nitric acid (HNO3) and sulphuric acid (H2SO4).
A weak acid is one that is only partly dissociated, no matter what the concentration. For
example, acetic acid (the active ingredient in vinegar) is only about 1% dissociated in water,
even in dilute solutions.
Concentrated Acid
A concentrated acid is an acid which is either pure (no solvent) or has a high concentration.
Glacial acetic acid is a concentrated weak acid and industrial sulfuric acid (about 98% by weight,
the other 2% is water) is a concentrated strong acid.
Preparation of 1M solution from concentrated acids
1 molar (1M) solution of acids can be prepared by diluting concentrated acids as per the
procedure given in the table below.

CONCENTRATED ACIDS
Acids

Molarity Percent

Acetic acid
MW = 60.05

17.4M

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99%

Specific
Gravity
1.05

To make 1M solution
58mls / liter (1M)

HCl
MW = 36.46
Nitric acid
MW = 63.01
H2SO4
MW = 98.07
Hydrobromic acid
Hydrofluoric acid
MW = 20.01
Hydroiodic acid
Perchloric acid
MW = 100.46
Phosphoric acid
MW = 97.99

11.6M

36%

1.18

86mls / liter (1M)

16.4M

69%

1.42

61mls / liter (1M)

17.6M
36N
9N
27M

95%

1.84

48%
48%

1.49
1.29

56mls / liter (1M)

28mls / liter (1N)
111 mls / liter (1M)
37mls / liter (1M)

7M
11.7M
9.5M
45N
15M

57%
70%
61%
88%

1.70
1.71
1.66
1.69

143mls / liter (1M)

85.5mls / liter (1M)
105.5mls / liter (1M)
22.5mls / liter (1N)
67mls / liter (1M)

Dilute Acid
A dilute acid is the one which has more water than acid in it and is not very concentrated. Dilute
acids are prepared from concentrated acids by diluting with water. While preparing dilute acids,
always add acid to water and not water to acid. A large amount of heat is released when strong
acids are mixed with water. Adding more acid releases more heat. If you add water to acid, you
form an extremely concentrated solution of acid initially. So much heat is released that the
solution may boil very violently, splashing concentrated acid out of the container. If you add acid
to water, the solution that forms is very dilute and the small amount of heat released is not
enough to vaporize and spatter it. So, Always Add Acid to water, and never the reverse.

Preparation of Dilute Acids

Acetic Acid
Dilute 115mls of the concentrated acid to 1 liter with water. (2M)
Hydrochloric Acid
Dilute 172mls of the concentrated acid to 1 liter with water. (2M)

Nitric Acid
Dilute 122mls of the concentrated acid to 1 liter with water. (2M)
Sulphuric Acid
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Pour 56mls of the concentrated acid slowly and with constant stirring into about 500mls of water.
Cool and further dilute to 1 liter with water. (1M)

Base
Bases are substances that, in aqueous solution, are slippery to the touch and tastes bitter. It has
the ability to turn red litmus paper to blue and reacts with acids to form salts. Bases range from a
pH of greater than 7 to 14 (though some bases are greater than 14). Examples of bases are the
hydroxides of the alkali and alkaline earth metals (NaOH, Ca(OH)2, etc.)
A strong base is a basic chemical compound that can remove a proton (H+) from a molecule of a
very weak acid in an acid-base reaction. Examples of strong bases include hydroxides of alkali
metals and alkaline earth metals like NaOH, Ca(OH)2, KOH, Ba(OH)2, Mg(OH)2, etc.
A weak base is a chemical base that does not ionize fully in an aqueous solution. A weak base
may also be defined as a chemical base in which protonation is incomplete. Examples of weak
bases are alanine, ammonia, methylamine, etc.
Concentrated Base
Concentrated bases or alkalis are solid as w/w % solutions and labeled concentrated reagent.
Preparation of 1M solution from concentrated base
1M solution of concentrated base can be prepared by diluting concentrated base with water as
per the procedure given in the table below.
CONCENTRATED BASES
Concentrated Reagent
Ammonium Hydroxide
(NH4OH)
M.W = 35.05
Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH)
M.W = 40
Potassium Hydroxide (KOH)
M.W = 56.12

Molarity Percent
14.5M
28%
NH3

Specific gravity
0.88

To make 1M solution
69.0mls / liter

19.4M

50%

1.54

51.5mls / liter

11.7M

45%

1.46

85.5mls / liter

Preparation of Dilute Bases

Ammonia solution dilute

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Dilute 333 ml of the commercial solution to 1 liter (5N). The commercial product contains about
28% NH3 (15N).
Barium Hydroxide
Shake 70 gms of the crystalised salt in 1 liter of water. Filter or siphon off the liquid, and protect
from CO2 of the air. (0.2M)
Calcium Hydroxide
Shake 2-3 gms of calcium hydroxide with 1 liter of water. Filter or siphon off the liquid, and
protect from CO2 of the air. (0.02M)
Potassium Hydroxide
Dissolve 112 gms of KOH pellets in water and dilute to 1 liter. (2M)
Sodium Hydroxide
Dissolve 200 gms of NaOH pellets in water and dilute to 1 liter. (5M)

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