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Question

Good Morning sir , my doubt is :

What is the importance of acids , bases and salts in our daily life?

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Solution

Acids and bases are very useful in our daily lives. Let’s start with acids. Without acids, we won’t have Vitamin C (ascorbic acid), your car won’t start (sulphuric acid in car batteries) or even accelerated rotting of your food (food preservative in the form of citric acid). Similarly, imagine a world without bases. Without bases, stubborn stains on your clothing won’t come off (sodium hypochlorite in bleach), you’ll have dirty mirrors (ammonium hydroxide used in glass cleaners) and even having bowel problems as laxatives can be made from magnesium hydroxide.

The Uses of Acids in Our Daily Life

Benzoic acid Its salt are used to preserve food
Carbonic acid To make carbonated drinks
Ethanoic acid A main compound of vinegar
Hydrochloric acid To clean metals before electroplating / household cleaning / leather processing / swimming pool maintenance
Nitric acid Production of fertilisers, explosives, etching and dissolution of metals (purification and extraction of gold)
Sulphuric acid To make detergent, polymer and fertilisers.
Tartaric acid Manufacturing of soft drinks, provide tartness to food, as an emetic (a substance to induce vomiting)

The Uses of Bases in Our Daily Life

Ammonia Production of fertilisers (ammonium and nitrate salts), used in the manufacture of nitric acid, neutralise the acid (in the petroleum industry) and prevent premature coagulation in natural / synthetic latex.
Aluminium hydroxide Manufacture other aluminium compound and to make gastric medicine (antacid)
Calcium hydroxide To make cement, limewater, neutralise the acidity of soil and application of sewage treatment.
Sodium hydroxide Used in the manufacturing of soaps, detergents, and cleaners.
Magnesium hydroxide Suspension of magnesium hydroxide in water are used as an antacid, used as an antiperspirant armpit deodorant and as a non-hazardous alkali to neutralise acidic wastewater.
Uses of salts
  1. Ammonium chloride is used in dry cell, battery and in the manufacture of medicine.
  2. Potassium nitrate as meat preservative and in the manufacture of fertilizers and fireworks.
  3. Sliver nitrate in medicine and photography.
  4. Potassium carbonate in the manufacture of glass and soap.
  5. Sodium bicarbonate in baking and in fire extinguishers.
  6. Sodium hypochlorite in bleaching.
  7. Potash alum in the purification of water.
  8. Calcium sulfate in making moulds and casts

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