Uses of Acids

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Uses of Acids

1. Hydrochloric Acid (HCl)

  • Dilute hydrochloric acid is used in various industries that use heating applications. It is applied to remove deposits from the inside of the boilers.
  • Hydrochloric acid is also used for cleaning sinks and sanitary ware.

2. Sulphuric Acid (H2SO4)
Sulphuric acid is such an important industrial chemical that it is called the king of chemicals. Some of its major uses are as follows:

  • Sulphuric acid is used in car batteries.
  • It is used in the manufacture of paints, drugs, dyes, and to produce fertilizers.

3. Nitric Acid (HNO3)

  • It is used by goldsmiths for cleaning gold and silver ornaments.
  • It is also used for the production of fertilizers such as ammonium nitrate.

4. Acetic Acid (CH3COOH)

  • Acetic acid is used directly to enhance the flavour of food. In fact, we commonly know acetic acid as vinegar.
  • It is also used as a cleansing agent in products meant for cleaning windows, floors, utensils, etc.
  • It also helps to remove stains on woodwork such as furniture and carpets.
  • Acetic acid is used as a preservative in pickles, etc. Most microorganisms cannot live in an acidic environment. An acidic environment either slows down their activities or can also kill them. This is why you will find vinegar in many commonly packaged food items such as pickles, sauce, ketchups, etc.

The following table shows the uses of some organic and inorganic acids.

AcidUses
Organic acids 
Citric acid
  1. As a preservative for food
  2. As a flavouring agent
Ascorbic acid (also called vitamin C)
  1. In the treatment of bone marrow and scurvy diseases
Acetic acid
  1. Added to pickles to make them sour
Tartaric acid
  1.  A component of baking power (baking powder is a mixture of sodium hydrogencarbonate and tartaric acid)
Inorganic acids
Hydrochloric acid
  1. Its presence in the gastric juice helps digestion of food we eat.
  2. As a bathroom cleaner
  3. In the manufacture of polyvinyl chloride (PVC)

Nitric acid

  1. Nitric acid present in rainwater forms nitrates in the soil which are then used by plants to obtain nitrogen.
  2. In the manufacture of fertilizers like ammonium nitrate
  3. In making explosives like TNT and dynamite

Sulphuric acid

  1. In storage batteries
  2. In the manufacture of fertilizers, paints and pigments, detergents and artificial fibre
  3. In the manufacture of hydrochloric acid and alum
Phosphric acid
  1. In fertilizer and detergent industries

Boric acid

  1. In the manufacture of glass, glazes and enamels, leather, paper, adhesives and explosives
  2. Widely used in detergents
  3. As a grain preservative

 

AcidSulphuric acidNitric acidBenzoic acidEthanoic acidMethanoic acid
UseTo make

  • electrolyte
  • detergents
  • paints
  • polymers
  • fertilisers
To make

  • dyes
  • explosives
  • plastics
  • fertilisers
  • As a preservative
  • As a preservative
  • To make vinegar
  • To coagulate latex

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