How can neutralisation be useful

The harmful waste coming out of such factories is generally discharged into the nearby flowing water bodies like rivers. This affects the health of marine plants and animals. To minimize the damage caused due to the acidic nature of the waste, it must be treated before disposal.

This treatment of waste is based on the neutralization reaction. Brushing teeth with basic toothpaste is a classic example of a neutralization reaction in everyday life. The decaying food particles in our teeth tend to form acid and cause teeth decay.

This is because the alkaline or basic nature of the toothpaste tends to neutralize the acid released by the food particles present in the mouth. The hair usually feels rough and tangled after washing them with shampoo because the shampoo is mildly alkaline in nature. This problem can be resolved by applying conditioner to hair after the wash.

Hair conditioners are mild acids that neutralise the alkaline nature of the hair and helps restore moisture and smoothness in them. The formation of sodium chloride NaCl or table salt is one of the most common examples of a neutralization reaction. So, the conditioner neutralises its effect, and the hair becomes shiny. Plants grow on a soil which has a particular pH value. Plants cannot grow on soil which has an acidic composition.

So, to neutralise its effect bases are added to the soil. Compounds such as limestone, powdered lime, and also burnt wood ashes are added to the soil to make its pH less acidic. This technique helps in controlling the pH of the soil by neutralising the effect of acids and bases in the soil. In wastewater treatment, this method is used to reduce the damage caused by the effluents.

This is a great example of neutralisation reaction examples in real life. Neutralisation is also used in the antacid tablet manufacturing process. The power stations and industries emit acidic gases such as sulphur dioxide in the air as a by-product to several chemical processes taking place during the operations. These gases are harmful to the body if inhaled and also harmful to the environment. As a result, these gases are treated with lime CaO - calcium oxide in order to get neutralised and reduce their harmful effects.

In the industries, the coagulation of latex is prevented by the use of ammonia, NH 3. Basic substances neutralise acids, resulting in the pH of the acid increasing towards 7, and water being produced. A soluble base dissolves in water to form an alkali. To name the salt, the metal ion from the alkali or base replaces the hydrogen ion from the acid - alkali to front, acid to back.

For example:. Neutralisation Neutralisation is the reaction of an acid with a base that results in the pH moving towards seven. Naming salts To name the salt, the metal ion from the alkali or base replaces the hydrogen ion from the acid - alkali to front, acid to back.