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Question

What is an olfactory indicator? Name two such indicators.

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Answer

An olfactory indicator is a substance that changes its smell when it reacts with an acid or a base. These indicators help us identify whether a solution is acidic or basic through the sense of smell.

Two examples of olfactory indicators are:

1. Vanilla: In acidic solutions, it retains its sweet smell, while in basic solutions, it may have a different, less pleasant odor.

2. Onion: When mixed with an acid, it can produce a strong smell, but in a basic solution, the smell changes.

These indicators are useful in chemistry to detect pH changes without using color.

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A student accidently spilled concentrated H2SO4 on his hand. Before the teacher got to know, his friend washed his hands with water and also with soap but the burning sensation on hand still continued. His friend then rubbed solid sodium bicarbonate on his hand and then washed with water, finally the burning sensation is relieved. Answer the following questions based on the above situation (i) Mention the values shown by student’s friend. (ii) Can you recommend any other substance available in the laboratory which can be used instead of sodium bicarbonate? (iii) Write the chemical reaction involved in the treatment of acid burn with sodium bicarbonate.

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