Chapter 2: Acids, Bases and Salts

You have been provided with three test tubes. One of them contains distilled water and the other two contain an acidic solution and a basic solution respectively. If you are given only red litmus paper, how will you identify the contents of each test tube?

Remember: Red litmus turns blue in a basic (alkaline) solution. It stays red in acidic or neutral solutions.

Why does dry HCl gas not change the colour of dry litmus paper?

Explain in terms of ionisation — what is required for HCl to show acidic properties?