Vijay Luxmi Askiitiansexpert
Last Activity: 15 Years ago
Definitions for Acids and Bases
An ACID is a compound that forms ions in solution and whose formula starts with “H”, and a BASE is a compound that forms ions in solution and whose formula ends with “OH”.
The following properties can be used to help identify an acid or a base.
A substance is an ACID if it
(a) conducts electricity when dissolved in water, and
(b) reacts with a base, and
(c) turns litmus paper RED*, and
(d) reacts with magnesium or zinc to produce hydrogen gas, and
(e) tastes sour.
A substance is a BASE if it
(a) conducts electricity when dissolved in water, and
(b) reacts with an acid, and
(c) turns litmus paper BLUE*, and
(d) feels slippery, and
(e) tastes bitter.
A substance that is neither an acid nor a base is said to be a NEUTRAL substance.
NOTE : There are only three types of solutions: acidic, neutral and basic. There is only one neutral
solution. However, there is a wide range of acidic solutions, from highly acidic to very slightly acidic. (A
“very slightly acidic” solution is almost neutral.) Similarly, there is a wide range of basic solutions, from
highly basic to very slightly basic. (A “very slightly basic” solution is almost neutral.)!!!!!