Question

(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?

Answer 1

(i). Tomato juice is typically sour due to its pH being below 7. Substances with a pH less than 7 are acidic and usually taste sour.

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(ii). A strong acid fully dissociates in water, yielding numerous \( \text{H}^+ \) ions.
Example:\[\text{HCl} \rightarrow \text{H}^+ + \text{Cl}^-.\]
  A weak base partially dissociates in water, yielding fewer \( \text{OH}^- \) ions. 
Example:\[\text{NH}_4\text{OH} \rightleftharpoons \text{NH}_4^+ + \text{OH}^-.\]
 

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(iii). Acid rain reduces the pH of water bodies, rendering them acidic. This impacts aquatic life by:
• Damaging the gills of fish and other aquatic organisms. 
• Decreasing the availability of essential minerals through the dissolution of toxic metals such as aluminum.