Names of 5 common acids found in the home

Furthermore, acids are characterized by:

• Have a pH less than 7.
• Dissolve metals.
• Be solid or liquid.
• Have a sour or acid taste.
• Neutralize the bases.
• Change the color of indicators, for example, litmus paper to red.
• Be corrosive on contact with skin.
• Be conductors of electrical energy.
• Produce hydrogen (H) and salt when reacting with metals.
• Produce water (H2O) and salt when reacting with bases or metal oxides.
• be soluble in water.

types of acids

Acids can be classified into:

• Strong acids : are those that completely dissociate in water. That is, they provide hydrogen ions (H+) but do not receive them. Some examples of strong acids are hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, and nitric acid. They are highly corrosive and can conduct electrical energy.
• Weak acids : these provide hydrogen ions (H+) and can also receive them. Some examples of weak acids are acetic, lactic, formic acid and some salts such as ammonium phosphate. They are characterized in that they do not completely dissociate in an aqueous solution and are less corrosive.

Other examples of acids

There are other examples of acids besides those mentioned above. Some of them are:

• Nitric acid
• phosphoric acid
• Oxalic acid
• hydrobromic acid
• hydroiodic acid
• Hypochlorous acid
• fluorosulfuric acid
• fluoroantimonic acid
• Chromic acid
• Tartaric acid
• gluconic acid
• Oxalic acid

The 5 most common acids in the home

Although acids are present in nature and are used in countless processes, not all of them are in everyday use. However, it is very easy to find 5 common acids in any home. Next we will see each one in detail, both its chemical formula and its description as well as its uses and applications.

lactic acid

Lactic acid, whose name derives from the Latin lactis , which means milk, or its ionized form, lactate, is a compound that participates in several chemical processes. It is also known as 2-hydroxy-propanoic acid or α-hydroxy-propanoic acid and its formula is: C ₃ H ₆ O ₃ . As its name indicates, this acid is present in milk and its derivatives.

Lactic Acid Applications

Lactic acid is obtained from lactose, a milk sugar. Its most common uses include properties in:

• Cosmetics and aesthetics : it is used as a softener and anti-wrinkle agent in creams and other cosmetic products. It is also used as a repairer for UV damage and to improve skin texture and tone.
• Food : works as an acidity regulator in different foods. It is also one of the ingredients in processed foods for children.
• Medicine : used as a purgative. In addition, it participates in organic synthesis. It is also the raw material in the manufacture of biopolymers.
• Industry : it serves as a remover of calcium salts and is also used in leather tanning. It even works to eliminate mites.

citric acid

Citric acid is also known as 3-carboxy-3-hydroxypentanedioic acid. Its formula is C ₆ H ₈ O ₇ . It is an organic acid that is mainly found in many fruits and vegetables, and especially in citrus fruits such as lemon, orange and tangerine.

In the industry it is obtained from the fermentation of sugars. Some living organisms like mold also produce citric acid.

Its characteristics include its appearance of white powder and its properties as a natural preservative and antioxidant. It is common to find it as a food additive in many packaged foods.

In addition, it has an important function in cellular respiration.

When citric acid is heated above 175°C, it decomposes, generating carbon dioxide and water.

Citric Acid Uses

The most common uses of citric acid are the following:

• It is a natural flavoring and pH regulator in all kinds of drinks, jellies, preserves and sweets.
• It works as an acidulant.
• Enhances the sweetness of sweeteners and reinforces the effectiveness of preservatives and antioxidants.
• It prevents oxidation and color deterioration in fruits and vegetables.
• Prevents oxidation of oils and fats.
• When used in the form of salt, it serves as an emulsifier and texturizer for pasteurized cheeses and other processed products.
• It is used as a stabilizer in whipped creams.

ascorbic acid

Ascorbic acid, popularly known as vitamin C, is an organic acid characterized by its antioxidant properties. Its chemical formula is C ₆ H ₈ O ₆ . It is in the form of small crystals and is colorless and odorless. It is also soluble in water and has a sour taste.

The name “ascorbic” derives from the prefix a- , which means “without” and from the Latin scorbuticus , which means “scurvy”. This is because it prevented and cured scurvy, a disease caused by a lack of vitamin C.

Uses and benefits of ascorbic acid

Vitamin C is an essential nutrient for the development and growth of humans and other living things. In addition, vitamin C is necessary for:

Repair tissues of all parts of the body.

• Form a protein that is important in the production of skin, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels.
• heal wounds
• Repair and maintain bones, teeth and cartilage.
• absorb iron.
• Fight free radicals.
• Alleviate the common cold.

sulfuric acid

The formula for sulfuric acid is H ₂ SO ₄ . This is characterized by being an extremely corrosive compound. In addition, it is one of the most produced compounds in the world. For this reason it is used as one of the measures of the industrial capacity of a country.

Sulfuric acid is obtained from sulfur dioxide, through oxidation with nitrogen oxides in an aqueous solution. In ancient times, it was known as vitriol oil, because it was obtained from this mineral.

Sulfuric Acid Uses

Among its qualities, its great dehydrating effect on hydrocarbon molecules such as sucrose can be distinguished. In addition, it is characterized by its various applications in different fields:

• Industry : mainly, it is used for the manufacture of fertilizers. Also, in the synthesis of other acids and sulfates. In the petrochemical industry it is used to refine petroleum. It is even used to produce pigments, extract non-ferrous metals, treat steel, manufacture explosives, batteries, detergents, fibers and plastics.
• Chemistry – Used in the reaction of organic chemical processes and in the production of hydrochloric acid, hydrofluoric acid, and titanium oxide pigments.

As this acid is very corrosive, it is necessary to take precautions with its use.

acetic acid

Acetic acid, whose formula is C ₂ H ₄ O ₂ , is also known as ethanoic acid or methylcarboxylic acid. It is commonly used because it is found in vinegar and derivative products. Its main characteristics are its sour taste and smell. Its melting point is 16.6 °C and its boiling point is 117.9 °C.

Acetic Acid Applications

In organic chemistry it is used as a reagent. In inorganic chemistry it is used as a ligand and in biochemistry as a metabolite.

In addition to these scientific uses, acetic acid has a wide range of applications in everyday life. Some of them are:

• Cleaning : serves as a disinfectant and allows cleaning all kinds of stains.
• Kitchen : it is used to prepare and accompany different dishes.
• Medicine : used to detect human papilloma virus infection. When the tissue of the cervix stains white with acetic acid, it indicates that there is an infection caused by this virus. It can also help fight external otitis if mixed with alcohol. Even in radiographic machines, acetic acid is used to slow down the development process.
• Beekeeping : combat different pests.
• Chemical industry : its derivatives such as vinyl acetate or cellulose acetate are frequently used. These are the basis for the manufacture of different products such as nylon and cellophane, among others. It also works as a fixing solution in chemical analysis.
• Photography : It was used as an alkalinity neutralizer in the development of black and white photographs. Currently, fixatives use sodium thiosulfate as the main component and incorporate acetic acid as an acidulant to maintain the pH of the solution at the appropriate low levels. In addition, cellulose acetate is used as a base for motion picture and photographic films due to its transparency and flexibility.

Bibliography

• Brown, SE; Trivieri, L. Acid- Alkaline . Food Guide : Quick reference to foods and their effects on pH . (2013). Spain. Gaia Editions.
• Moore, JT Chemistry for Dummies . (2019). Spain. Planet.
• Petrucci, R. General Chemistry . (2017). Spain. pearson.
• Zita, A. Acids: Concept, Properties, and Examples . AllMatter. Available at https://www.todamateria.com/acidos/ .