What are Acids and Bases?
Acids and bases are compounds that occur naturally and can also be created artificially. They are found in various substances including our food. Vinegar or acetic acid is used as a food preservative, yogurt contain lactic acid, baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is a common base used in baking, etc.
Acids and bases are essential in various chemical reactions, industrial processes, and biological systems.
Acids
Acids are compounds that donate protons (H+) when dissolved in water. Acids are represented as proton donors since they easily release hydrogen ions to other substances.
Acids are identified by their sour taste and their ability to turn blue litmus paper red. Substances with a pH below 7 on the pH scale are termed as acids.
Examples of acid include: hydrochloric acid (HCl), sulfuric acid (H2SO4), citric acid (found in citrus fruits), etc.
Bases
Bases are another name for alkalis which are compounds that dissociate to hydroxide ions (OH–) in water. Chemically, bases are considered donors of protons as they readily withdraw hydrogen ions from other components.
Bases are bitter in taste and can turn red litmus paper to blue. Substances with a pH value above 7 on the pH scale are termed as bases.
Examples of bases include: Potassium Hydroxide (KOH), sodium hydroxide (NaOH), ammonia (NH3), Magnesium Hydroxide (Mg(OH)2), etc.
Also Check, pH of Acid and Base.
Uses of Acids and Bases
Acids and bases are fundamental categories of chemical compounds that exhibit distinct properties and behaviors. Understanding their nature is essential in chemistry as they play crucial roles in various chemical reactions and processes.
In this article, we will learn about acids and bases along with their uses in our day-to-day lives.
Table of Content
- What are Acids and Bases?
- Uses of Acids
- Uses of Bases