Two categories of chemical substances with opposing characteristics are bases and acids:
Acids:
Acids are defined as compounds that have the ability to accept or donate electron pairs and protons (H⁺ ions).
pH: On the pH scale, acids have a pH of less than 7.
Taste: Most acids are dangerous to taste, however some have a sour taste.
Conductivity: When dissolved in water, acids can conduct electricity.
Reaction with Metals: Hydrogen gas is produced when acids react with specific metals.
Reddish-blue litmus paper becomes the indicator.
Citric acid, hydrochloric acid (HCl), and sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) are a few examples.
Bases:
By definition, bases are materials that have the ability to donate electron pairs or accept protons (H⁺ ions).
Bases: According to the pH scale, their pH is higher than 7.
Taste: Bases have a slick, bitter flavour.
Conductivity: When dissolved in water, bases can conduct electricity.
Reaction with Metals: Hydrogen gas is not usually produced by bases reacting with metals.
Blue litmus paper turns red as an indicator.
Examples include ammonia (NH3), potassium hydroxide (KOH), and sodium hydroxide (NaOH).
Understanding pH is essential to determining how basic or acidic a substance is. The pH scale has a neutral pH of 7, and a range of 0 to 14. Acidic substances have a pH of less than 7, whereas basic substances have a pH of greater than 7. In a neutralisation reaction, acids and bases frequently combine to form salt and water.
Acids have a pH of less than 7, taste sour, turn blue litmus paper red, and are similar to proton donors. Bases have a pH higher than 7, taste bitter, turn red litmus paper blue, and are proton acceptors. Acidity is measured on the pH scale, where bases are above 7, acids are below 7, and 7 is neutral.
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