Acids and Bases

What are Acids and Bases?

Acids and bases are typical compounds present in a wide range of everyday commodities, including fruit juices and soft beverages, as well as soap. Acids and bases play a crucial part in our lives and the world around us, from our bodies to our planet’s seas and rocks. You’ve encountered acids and bases if you’ve ever sipped lemon juice or cleansed your hands with soap. Scientists categorize substances as acids, bases (also known as alkali), or neutral based on properties such as taste and pH.

Acids and Bases Definition

Acids 

Acids have long been known as a unique class of chemicals whose aqueous solutions have the characteristics of being sour. Acids alter the colour of litmus paper from red to blue when they react with metals and give H2 gas, and when they react with bases, they make salt and water. Acidic solutions have a pH less than 7, with lower pH values indicating more acidity.

Bases

A corrosive material is one that, via a chemical reaction, damages or destroys other substances with which it comes into contact.

The bases are slick to the touch. This is due to their ability to alter the structure of proteins. Because it begins to harm the proteins in your skin, a strong base may cause serious chemical burns. Many cleaning solutions include basic chemicals.

According to Arrhenius, bases are any compound that gives hydroxide ion (OH–) in solution. According to Bronsted-Lowry, bases are any compound capable of taking a proton, whereas Lewis states that bases are any compound capable of contributing an electron pair.

Theories of Acids and Bases

The Bronsted-Lowry theory

The Bronsted-Lowry theory, also known as the proton theory of acids and bases, is a theory proposed in 1923 by Johannes Nicolaus Bronsted and Thomas Martin Lowry states that an acid is any substance that can transfer a proton to another component, and a base is any molecule that recognizes the proton. A proton is a nuclear particle with one unit of positive electrical charge; it is represented by the symbol H+ since it is the nucleus of an H2 atom.

The Lewis Theory

According to the Lewis theory of acids and bases, acids operate as electron-pair acceptors while bases act as electron-pair donors. Unlike the other definitions, this one makes no mention of the hydrogen atom at all. It merely mentions the exchange of electron pairs.

Properties of Acids and Bases

Acids And Bases Have Different Ph Values

The pH scale, which spans from 0 to 14, measures how basic or acidic a solution is. The pH of acidic solutions is less than 7, while the pH of bases is more than 7. Water (H2O) and other solutions with a pH of 7 are considered to be neutral. There are several techniques for measuring the pH of a solution, but two of the most frequent are the use of indicators and probes. Because the gadget is inserted in the solution and digitally scanned, probes are more accurate. Litmus paper is one form of indication. Acids turn blue litmus paper red, whereas bases make blue litmus paper red.

Acids and bases flavour and texture

Taste and texture are two further distinguishing characteristics of acids and bases. It should be reminded that individuals should always observe lab safety requirements and never eat or come into direct contact with chemicals. 

Chemists used to taste substances before these laws were put in place to safeguard humans. Lemons are acidic because they contain a lot of citric acids. Furthermore, lemons have a pH of roughly 2-3, which is significantly below the acidic range on a pH scale. On the other hand, bases have a bitter flavour. As an example, consider the flavour of soap or toothpaste.

Acid And Base Reactivity With Metal

Whenever acids interact with metals, the result is strikingly similar to that of a neutralisation reaction. The only difference is that instead of creating water, hydrogen gas is produced. Whatever acid or metal is utilised, this will always generate a salt and H2 gas. Bases do not normally react with metals, although there are a few exceptions, such as zinc and aluminium. These reactions produce salts and hydrogen gas as byproducts.

Conclusion

Acids and bases are generally very useful. Acids are used in making vinegar, acetic acid, and citric acid are used in food preservation and they are also used in industry at a very large scale. On the other hand, bases are also very useful, they are used in making soap, toothpaste, etc. There are strong acids and strong bases are also present and if you don’t properly use these, they become very dangerous.