Question

(a) What are organic acids and mineral acids?

(b) Give two examples each of organic acids and mineral acids.

(c) What colour does phenolphthalein indicator turn when added to an alkali (such as sodium hydroxide)?
[3 Marks]

Answer 1

(a) Organic acids are acids present in plant materials and animals. These are naturally occurring acid. A mineral acid (or inorganic acid) is an acid derived from one or more minerals in the earth.
[1 Mark]
(b) Organic acids: Citric acid, lactic acid

Mineral acids: Hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid
[1 Mark]

(c) The color of phenolphthalein in the basic medium is pink.
[1 Mark]