Contents
Key Stage 3
Meaning
An alkali is a Metal Hydroxide solution that has a pH more than 7.
About Alkalis
- Alkalis can be an Irritant, Harmful or Corrosive and should be handled with care.
- Alkalis can be used to neutralise acids.
- Alkalis can be concentrated or dilute.
- Alkalis can be weak or strong which depends on the type of alkali and the concentration.
- Alkalis turn Litmus paper blue.
- Alkalis turn Universal Indicator blue, indigo and purple depending on the strength of the alkali.
Some common Alkalis you should know:
Key Stage 4
Meaning
An alkali is basic compound which dissolves in water to form OH- ions making a solution with pH greater than 7.
About Alkalis
- Alkalis are bases in solution which form Hydroxide ions.
- When a baseic compound dissolves in water a Hydroxide ion becomes dissociated from either the basic compound or from a water molecule. That Hydroxide ion is free to move separately in the solution.
- The Hydroxide ions in an alkali will donate electrons to Hydrogen ions to form water. This is a neutralisation reaction.
- The strength of an alkali is measured on the pH scale. The more Hydroxide ions in a solution the lower the pH.