Question 283 marksShort AnswerSection C

(i) The pH of a sample of tomato juice is 4.6. How is this juice likely to be in taste ? Give reason to justify your answer. (ii) How do we differentiate between a strong acid and a weak base in terms of ion- formation in aqueous solutions ? (iii) The acid rain can make the survival of aquatic animals difficult. How ?

Chemical Reactions and Equations
Acids, Bases and Salts

Official answer

(i) The tomato juice is likely to be sour in taste. This is because a pH of 4.64.6 is less than 77, indicating that the juice is acidic in nature, and acids are characterized by a sour taste.


(ii) In aqueous solutions, a strong acid (such as HClHCl or H2SO4H_2SO_4 mentioned in the text) undergoes complete ionization, producing a high concentration of hydrogen ions (H+H^+). In contrast, a weak base undergoes only partial ionization, producing a relatively low concentration of hydroxide ions (OH−OH^-).


(iii) Acid rain lowers the pH of water bodies (like rivers and ponds) below the level required for the survival of aquatic life. Most aquatic organisms can only survive within a narrow range of pH; high acidity can damage their tissues and disrupt their reproductive cycles.

Answer keywords:souracidicpH < 7complete ionizationpartial ionizationnarrow pH range

Marking scheme

  1. 1.Identification of taste (sour) and justification (pH < 7 is acidic) (1 mark)
  2. 2.Differentiation based on ion formation (complete vs partial ionization) (1 mark)
  3. 3.Explanation of acid rain's impact on aquatic survival (lowering pH) (1 mark)

Hint

Recall that pH values less than 7 indicate acidity and that acids taste sour.

Quick oral answer

A strong acid dissociates completely into its constituent ions in water, whereas a weak base only dissociates partially.

Common mistakes

  1. 1.Confusing the pH scale and thinking higher numbers are more acidic.
  2. 2.Assuming all bases are strong or all acids are weak.

Analysis and explanation

The question relates the chemical property of pH to physical properties (taste) and biological impacts. Although the provided text focuses on chemical reactions, it introduces acids like HClHCl and H2SO4H_2SO_4 in Activity 1.3. The pH scale is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution. A pH below 7 is acidic, and since tomato juice has a pH of 4.6, it contains organic acids that provide a sour taste. The strength of an acid or base is determined by its degree of ionization in water, which is a fundamental chemical concept.

Interesting facts

The pH of the human stomach is highly acidic (around 1.5 to 3.5) due to hydrochloric acid, which helps in the digestion process mentioned in the text.

Question details

Q28 of 39 questions

Board
CBSE
Class
Class 10
Subject
Science
Year
2024
Section
Section C
Marks
3
Type
Short Answer
Chapter
Chemical Reactions and Equations
Topic
Acids, Bases and Salts
Bloom's level
Understanding
Syllabus topic
Concepts of pH, importance of pH in everyday life, nature of acids and bases

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Frequently asked questions

How many marks does this question carry in CBSE Class 10 Science 2024?

This question carries 3 marks in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2024 examination.

Which chapter does this question come from in Science?

This question is from the chapter "Chemical Reactions and Equations" in the CBSE Class 10 Science syllabus.

What topic does this question cover in Science?

This question covers the topic "Acids, Bases and Salts" from CBSE Class 10 Science.

What type of question is this in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2024 paper?

This is a Short Answer question from Section C in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2024 paper.