Acids and Bases

Acids and bases are popular chemicals which interact with each other resulting in the
formation of salt and water.
The word acid comes from a Latin word ‘acere’ which means ‘sour’.
In our everyday lives, we use many compounds which scientists call acids. The orange or
grapefruit juice you drink for breakfast contains citric acid (also known as Vitamin C). When
milk turns sour, it contains lactic acid. The vinegar used in salad dressing contains acetic
acid. According to this, a chemical bond is considered as being made up of an acid-base
combination. The properties of a molecule, therefore, can be understood by dividing it into
acid and base fragments.

Acids and Bases Definition

An acid is any hydrogen-containing substance that is capable of donating a proton
(hydrogen ion) to another substance. A base is a molecule or ion able to accept a
hydrogen ion from an acid.
Acidic substances are usually identified by their sour taste. An acid is basically a molecule
which can donate an H ion and can remain energetically favourable after a loss of H . Acids
+ +

are known to turn blue litmus red.

Bases, on the other hand, are characterized by a bitter taste and a slippery texture. A base that
can be dissolved in water is referred to as an alkali. When these substances chemically react
with acids, they yield salts. Bases are known to turn red litmus blue.

Acid Definition Chemistry

The terms acid and base have been defined in different ways, depending on the particular way
of looking at the properties of acidity and basicity. Arrhenius first defined acids as
compounds which ionize to produce hydrogen ions
, and bases as compounds which ionize to produce hydroxide ions. OH-
According to the Lowry-Bronsted definition, an acid is a proton donor and a base is a proton
acceptor.
According to the Lewis definition,
acids are molecules or ions capable of coordinating with unshared electron pairs, and bases
are molecules or ions having unshared electron pairs available for sharing with acids. To be
acidic in the Lewis sense, a molecule must be electron deficient. This is the most general acid
base concept. All Lowery Bronstead acids are Lewis acids but, in addition, the Lewis
definition includes many other reagents such as boron trifluoride, aluminium chloride, etc.

Theories of Acids and Bases

Three different theories have been put forth in order to define acids and bases. These theories
include the Arrhenius theory, the Bronsted-Lowry theory, and the Lewis theory of acids and
bases. A brief description of each of these theories is provided in this subsection. Acids and
bases can be defined via three different theories.

 The Arrhenius theory of acids and bases states that “an acid generates H ions in a
+

solution whereas a base produces an OH ion in its solution”.

–

 The Bronsted-Lowry theory defines “an acid as a proton donor and a base as a proton
acceptor”.
 Finally, the Lewis definition of acids and bases describes “acids as electron-pair
acceptors and bases as electron-pair donors”.

pH of Acids and Bases

In order to find the numeric value of the level of acidity or basicity of a substance, the pH
scale (wherein pH stands for ‘potential of hydrogen’) can be used. The pH scale is the most
common and trusted way to measure how acidic or basic a substance is. A pH scale measure
can vary from 0 to 14, where 0 is the most acidic and 14 is the most basic a substance can be.
0-6 acidic
7 neutral
8-14 base

Another way to check if a substance is acidic or basic is to use litmus paper. There are two
types of litmus paper available that can be used to identify acids and bases – red litmus paper
and blue litmus paper. Blue litmus paper turns red under acidic conditions and red litmus
paper turns blue under basic or alkaline conditions.
 Litmus Test of Acids and Bases

Properties of Acids and Bases

1. Properties of Acids
 Acids are corrosive in nature.
 They are good conductors of electricity.
 Their pH values are always less than 7.
 When reacted with metals, these substances produce hydrogen gas.
 Acids are sour in taste.
 Examples: Sulfuric acid [H SO ], Hydrochloric acid [HCl], Acetic acid [CH COOH].
2 4 3

2. Properties of Bases
Some properties, like a bitter taste, are owned by all bases. The bases feel slippery, too.
Dream on what slippery soap looks like. And this is a foundation. Furthermore, when
immersed in water, bases conduct electricity because they consist of charged particles in the
solution.

 They are found to have a soapy texture when touched.

 These substances release hydroxide ions (OH ions) when dissolved in water.
–

 In their aqueous solutions, bases act as good conductors of electricity.

 The pH values corresponding to bases are always greater than 7.
 Bases are bitter-tasting substances which have the ability to turn red litmus paper
blue.
 Examples: Sodium hydroxide [NaOH], milk of magnesia [Mg(OH) ], calcium 2

hydroxide [Ca(OH) ].2

3. Neutral Substances
The neutral substance is a substance which is not acidic or basic, has the same amount of
hydrogen and hydroxyl ions, and does not alter the colour of the litmus surface.

 These substances do not display any acidic or basic characteristics.

 Their pH values approximate to 7.
 Neutral substances have no effect on red or blue litmus paper.
 The pH of pure water is exactly 7.
 Examples: Water, Common salt (NaCl)

Difference between Acids and Bases

Acids Bases
 Acid gives off hydrogen ions when Bases give off hydroxyl ion when
dissolved in water. dissolved in water.

It turns blue colour litmus paper into red. It turns red colour litmus paper into blue.

It has a sour taste. It has bitter taste and soapy to touch.

Its pH value ranges from 1 to 7. Its pH value ranges from 7 to 14.

Example: HCl, H2SO4 etc. Example: NaOH, KOH etc.

Arrhenius Concept of Acids and Bases

 The Swedish scientist Svante August Arrhenius defined acids as substances that
increase the H ion concentration of water when dissolved in it.
+

 These protons go on to form hydronium ions (H O ) by combining with water

3
+

molecules.
 Similarly, the Arrhenius definition of a base states that bases are the substances that,
when dissolved in water, increase the concentration of OH ions in it.
–

 One of the merits of this theory is that it successfully explains the reaction between
acids and bases that yield salts and water.
 An important limitation of the Arrhenius definitions of acids and bases is that it fails
to explain how substances lacking hydroxide ions form basic solutions when
dissolved in water, such as NO and F .
2
– –

Bronsted Lowry Theory of Acids and Bases

 The Bronsted-Lowry theory defines an acid as a donor of protons.
 A base is defined as a proton acceptor (or H ion acceptor) by this theory.
+

 Bronsted acids undergo dissociation to yield protons and therefore increase the
concentration of H ions in the solution.
+

 On the other hand, Bronsted bases accept protons from water (the solvent) to yield
hydroxide ions.
 An advantage of the Bronsted-Lowry definition of acids and bases is its ability to
explain the acidic or basic nature of ionic species.
 An important limitation of this theory is that it fails to explain how compounds
lacking hydrogen exhibit acidic properties, such as BF and AlCl .
3 3

Conjugate Acids and Bases

 According to Bronsted-Lowry concept, an acid is a substance that can donate H+ and
base is a substance that can accept H+.
 The acid and base which differ by proton , are said to form conjugate acid and base
pair.
  A conjugate acid is formed when a proton is added to a base, and a conjugate
base is formed when a proton is removed from an acid.

Examples: Consider the following reaction,

CH COOH + H O ⇋ CH COO + H O
3 2 3
–
3
+

In this above equation Acid: CH COOH , Conjugate Base : CH COO

3 3
–

Base: H O , Conjugate Acid: H O

2 3
+

Note: Conjugate Acid form by adding H+ ion on base, Conjugate base form by removing H+
ion from acid.
(a) The conjugate base of H2PO4– is H2PO4– – H+ ⇋ HPO42-
The conjugate base of H2PO4– is HPO42-

Uses of Acids and Bases

The various uses of acids and bases are listed in this subsection.

1. Uses of Acids
 Vinegar, a diluted solution of acetic acid, has various household applications. It is
primarily used as a food preservative.
 Citric acid is an integral part of lemon juice and orange juice. It can also be used in
the preservation of food.
 Sulphuric acid acid is widely used in batteries. The batteries used to start the engines
of automobiles commonly contain this acid.
 The industrial production of explosives, dyes, paints, and fertilizers involves the use
of sulphuric acid acid and nitric acid.
 Phosphoric acid is a key ingredient in many soft drinks.

2. Uses of Bases
 The manufacturing of soap and paper involves the use of sodium hydroxide. NaOH is
also used in the manufacture of rayon.
 Ca(OH) , also known as slaked lime or calcium hydroxide, is used to manufacture
2

bleaching powder.
 Dry mixes used in painting or decoration are made with the help of calcium
hydroxide.
  Magnesium hydroxide, also known as milk of magnesia, is commonly used as a
laxative. It also reduces any excess acidity in the human stomach and is, therefore,
used as an antacid.
 Ammonium hydroxide is a very important reagent used in laboratories.
 Any excess acidity in soils can be neutralized by employing slaked lime.

Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs

How do you identify acids and bases?

To decide whether a substance is an acid or base, count the hydrogens on each substance
before and after the reaction. If the number has decreased that substance is the acid (which
donates hydrogen ions) . If the number of hydrogens has increased that substance is the base
(accepts hydrogen ions)

What makes something an acid or a base?

An acid is a contributing product containing hydrogen ions. If the solution contains more
hydronium ions (H3O+) than hydroxyl ions (OH-) , then the given solution is a acid.
Similarly, if the solution contains more hydroxyl ions (OH-) than hydrogen ions (H+) , then
the given solution is a base.

What is base and example?

The sodium hydroxide, calcium carbonate and potassium oxide are examples of bases. A base
is a material that interacts with hydrogen ions and can neutralize the acid. Bases are classified
as acceptors of a proton (H+), and ammonium hydroxide are typical examples of the bases.

What is an acid and its properties?

Acids are ionic compounds that, when dissolved in water, produce positive hydrogen ions
( H+) When dissolved in water, acids are sour in taste, conduct electricity and react with
metals to produce hydrogen gas. Certain indicator compounds may be used to detect acids,
such as litmus. Acids turn blue litmus red.

What is the main difference between an acid and a base?

Two types of corrosive compounds are the acids and bases. Any material with a pH value
between 0 and 7 is known to be acidic while a pH value between 7 and 14 is a base. whereas,
bases are ionic compounds that produce hydroxide ions(OH-) when dissolved in water.

What is the importance of acid?

Acids play significant roles within the human body. The presence of hydrochloric acid in the
stomach helps digestion by breaking down large and complex food molecules. Amino acids
are required for protein synthesis which helps to grow and repair body tissues.

What is base and example?

The sodium hydroxide, calcium carbonate and potassium oxide are examples of bases. A base
is a substance that reacts with hydrogen ions and can neutralize the acid. Most bases are
minerals which form water and salts by reacting with acids. Bases include the metal oxides,
hydroxides, and carbonates.

How do you identify a base?

To decide whether a substance is an acid or base, count the hydrogens on each substance
before and after the reaction. If the number has decreased that substance is the acid (which
donates hydrogen ions) . If the number of hydrogens has increased that substance is the base
(accepts hydrogen ions).

What are the physical properties of the base?

Base taste bitter has a soapy texture and releases hydroxide ions when dissolved in water.
They are good conductors of electricity and have a pH value of more than seven. Sodium
hydroxide, potassium hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide are some examples of bases.

Can acid react with metals?

Yes, acids do react with the metal to form the corresponding salt and liberate hydrogen gas.
2 M + 2 HX → 2 MX + H 2