What is an acid and its base?
An acid is a substance that donates protons (in the Brønsted-Lowry definition) or accepts a pair of valence electrons to form a bond (in the Lewis definition). A base is a substance that can accept protons or donate a pair of valence electrons to form a bond. Bases can be thought of as the chemical opposite of acids.
How acid is formed?
We begin with two water molecules, and move some hydrogen atoms around. One water molecule gains a hydrogen and therefore takes on a positive charge, while the other water molecule loses a hydrogen atom and therefore becomes negatively charged. H 3O + is called a hydronium ion, and it makes things acidic.
What are 5 facts about acids and bases?
Fun Facts
- Acids and bases can help neutralize each other.
- Acids turn litmus paper red, bases turn it blue.
- Strong bases can be slippery and slimy feeling.
- Acids taste sour, bases taste bitter.
- Proteins are made up of amino acids.
- Vitamin C is also an acid called ascorbic acid.
- Ammonia is a base chemical.
What are the uses of acid?
Uses of acids and bases
| Uses of acid | Uses of base |
|---|---|
| 3 | Sulfuric acid is widely used in batteries. The batteries used to start the engines of automobiles commonly contain this acid. |
| 4 | The industrial production of explosives, dyes, paints, and fertilizers involves the use of sulfuric acid and nitric acid. |
How does an acid work?
An acid dissociates, or breaks apart, and donates protons, or hydrogen ions, in an aqueous solution, while a base donates hydroxide ions in a solution. Water, for example, is neutral with a pH of 7. When acids are added, they release more hydrogen ions into the solution, and this causes the pH of the solution to drop.
Do acids dissolve in water?
Acids and bases dissolve in water and, because they increase the concentration of either protons or hydroxide ions, they suppress water self-ionization. Acids in water solution dissociate H+ ions. Base, when dissolved in water, produces OH– ion.
What is the uses of acid and base?
| Uses of Acids | Uses of Bases |
|---|---|
| Nitric acid – fertilizer production, explosives | Magnesium hydroxide – Milk of Magnesia (antacid) |
| Trichloroacetic acid – removes warts, fouls wine | Ammonium hydroxide – smelling salts |
| Acetyl salicylic acid – aspirin | Aluminum hydroxide – fire extinguishers |
Why is it important to know about acid and base?
Acids and bases are important to many chemical processes: maintaining a stable internal environment in the human body, baking a delicious cake, or determining whether a lake can support aquatic life. Reactions involving acids and bases can be described through the transfer of protons – single H+ ions.
What is base short answer?
A base is a substance that can neutralize the acid by reacting with hydrogen ions. Most bases are minerals that react with acids to form water and salts. Bases include the oxides, hydroxides and carbonates of metals. The soluble bases are called alkalis. Sodium hydroxide is an alkali.
What is the use of bases?
Bases
| Some Common Bases | Uses |
|---|---|
| sodium hydroxide, NaOH (lye or caustic soda) | Used in the manufacture of soaps and detergents, and as the main ingredient in oven and drain cleaners. |
| potassium hydroxide, KOH (lye or caustic potash) | Used in the production of liquid soaps and soft soaps. Used in alkaline batteries. |