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Year 10
AQA
Foundation

Acid-base reactions (carbonates as bases)

I can identify bases, predict the names and states of products from a neutralisation reaction and compare the properties of metal and non-metal oxides.

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New
New
Year 10
AQA
Foundation

Acid-base reactions (carbonates as bases)

I can identify bases, predict the names and states of products from a neutralisation reaction and compare the properties of metal and non-metal oxides.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A base is a substance that neutralises an acid to make salt and water only (this is a neutralisation reaction).
  2. Hydroxides are generally soluble bases (they contain OH⁻ ions).
  3. Metal oxides are bases that are generally insoluble.
  4. Non-metal oxides are soluble and form acidic solutions.

Keywords

  • Base - A substance that reacts with an acid to form a compound called a salt.

  • Soluble - A way of describing a substance that does dissolve in a particular solvent.

  • Insoluble - A way of describing a substance that does not dissolve in a particular solvent.

  • Hydroxide - A basic compound which contains an ion comprising of an oxygen and a hydrogen atom (OH⁻).

  • Neutralisation - A chemical reaction between an acid and base to produce a neutral solution including a salt and water.

Common misconception

Pupils often believe that acids 'eat' away at substances, e.g. acid rain and limestone, rather than understanding that this is a chemical reaction.

Using familiar reactions between acids and bases, e.g. hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide or calcium carbonate, will provide evidence that a reaction has taken place (i.e. a change in temperature or producing a gas).


To help you plan your year 10 chemistry lesson on: Acid-base reactions (carbonates as bases), download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

To accompany this topic, it is always a good idea to review ionic bonding and ionic formulae to help pupils with the formation, naming and writing of the salts formed.
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Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is the pH range of acids?
Correct answer: 0 to 6
1 to 6
0 to 7
1 to 7
Q2.
Which ion is primarily found in acids?
Na⁺
Correct answer: H⁺
OH⁻
Cl⁻
Q3.
What is the pH range of bases?
0 to 6
7 to 10
Correct answer: 8 to 14
5 to 9
Q4.
Which ion is primarily found in bases?
Cl⁻
H⁺
Correct answer: OH⁻
Na⁺
Q5.
What does the pH scale measure?
Correct answer: The acidity or alkalinity of a solution.
The concentration of solutes in a solution.
The density of a solution.
The temperature of a solution.
Q6.
What is produced when an acid reacts with a base?
salt and water and carbon dioxide
salt and hydrogen
Correct answer: salt and water
salt and oxygen

6 Questions

Q1.
Complete the general equation for a neutralisation reaction: acid + base -->
salt + hydrogen
Correct answer: salt + water
salt + oxygen
salt + carbon dioxide
Q2.
Which ion is released by acids in solution?
Na⁺
Li⁺
K⁺
Correct answer: H⁺
Q3.
Which of the following statements are correct?
All bases are alkalis.
Correct answer: All alkalis are bases.
A base is a soluble alkali.
Correct answer: An alkali is a soluble base.
Q4.
What type of solution do non-metal oxides form when they dissolve in water?
basic
Correct answer: acidic
neutral
alkaline
Q5.
Are metal oxides generally soluble or insoluble in water?
Correct answer: insoluble
soluble
Q6.
What is another name for soluble bases?
Correct Answer: alkalis, alkali