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JEE Main 2026 Preparation: Question Papers, Solutions, Mock Tests & Strategy Unacademy » JEE Study Material » Chemistry » Properties of Acids and Bases

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Properties of Acids and Bases

Acids are chemical compounds that have a sour taste in an aqueous environment. Bases are on the other side, are chemical compounds that have a bitter taste and are slippery to touch.

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An acid is a chemical substance that can form a covalent bond with an electron pair. Citrus fruits such as oranges and lemons, for example, contain citric acid; vinegar contains acetic acid; and, in fact, our stomach uses hydrochloric acid for digestion. Acids have a sour flavor to them. It produces hydrogen when it combines with metals, and salt, carbon dioxide, and water when it reacts with carbonates. Acids are sticky and might cause nose irritation.

A base can be defined in three different ways in chemistry: Arrhenius bases, Bronsted bases, and Lewis bases. However, according to all definitions, bases are substances that react with acids, as proposed by G.-F. Rouelle in the mid-eighteenth century. Svante Arrhenius postulated in 1884 that the base is made up of compounds that dissociate in water to form hydroxide (OH-) ions. In an acid-base interaction, these hydroxide ions react with the hydrogen ions (H+) produced from the dissociation of the base to form water.

Properties of acid:

Corrosive in nature, acids are corrosive in their composition.
They are excellent electrical conductors.
In all cases, their pH values fall below 7.
These substances produce hydrogen gas when they come into contact with metals.
Acids are substances that have a sour taste to their mouth.
As an illustration, sulfuric acid [H2SO4], hydrochloric acid [HCl], and acetic acid [CH3COOH] are all acidic compounds.

Properties of bases:

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

When they are touched, they are discovered to have a soapy texture.
When these substances are dissolved in water, they release hydroxide ions (OH- ions) into the solution.
Aqueous solutions of bases are excellent conductors of electricity because of their high conductivity.
The pH values corresponding to bases are always greater than 7, indicating that they are bases.
Known for their bitter taste, bases are substances that have the ability to change the colour of red litmus paper to blue.
Sodium hydroxide [NaOH], milk of magnesia [Mg(OH)2], and calcium hydroxide [Ca(OH)2] are some examples.

Difference between acids and bases:

Acids	Bases
When an acid is dissolved in water, hydrogen ions are released.	When dissolved in water, bases release the hydroxyl ion.
It causes the colour of litmus paper to change from blue to red.	It transforms red-colored litmus paper into blue-colored litmus paper.
Its pH ranges from 1 to 7 on the scale.	Its pH ranges from 7 to 14 on the scale.
For example, HCl, H2SO4 and so on.	For example, NaOH, KOH, and so on.

Chemical properties of acids:

1] Acids react with metals that are reactive, such as the following:

The reaction of acid and metal produces salt and hydrogen. for example,

Zn(s) + H2SO4 (aq) – ZnSO4(aq) + H2(g)

2] Acids reacts with bases:

Salinity and water are formed by combining acid and base.

6HNO3(aq) + Fe2O3(s) = 2Fe(NO3)3(aq) + 3H2O (l).

The reaction of acids and bases with metals is referred to as electrolysis.

3] Acids and Carbonates:

Acids and carbonates react with One Another Using acid and carbonate, we can make any salt solution with water and carbon dioxide.

H2SO4 (aq) + CuCO3(s) = CuSO4(aq) + H2O(l) + CO2(g)

Chemical properties of bases:

1] Reaction of bases with metals: Alkalis (bases that are soluble in water) react with the metal, resulting in the formation of sodium chloride and hydrogen gas.

For example, zinc reacts with sodium hydroxide in a variety of ways.

NaOH (aq) + Zn(S) – Na2ZnO2 + H2 (g)

2] The reaction of non metal oxide with bases:

Non-metal oxides react with bases to form salt and water, which are both beneficial. As an illustration, consider the reaction between carbon dioxide and lime water (calcium hydroxide).

CO2 + Ca(OH)2 – CaCO3 + H2O

3] The reaction between acids and bases:

Salinity and water are formed by combining acid and base.

6HNO3(aq) + Fe2O3(s) = 2Fe(NO3)3(aq) + 3H2O (l)

The reaction of acids and bases with metals is referred to as electrolysis.

Conclusion:

Acids are chemical compounds that have a sour taste when they are present in aqueous solutions. They have a proclivity to turn blue litmus red when exposed to them. Bases, on the other hand, are chemical compounds with a bitter taste and a slippery texture to the touch that are used in chemical reactions.

It is possible to determine the acidity of a solution using the pH scale. Chemical compounds that are sticky in nature can irritate the nasal passages. There are three different types of bases in chemistry, each of which is defined differently: Arrhenius bases, Bronsted bases, and Lewis bases. An acid-base reaction occurs when hydroxide ions (OH-) produced by the dissociation of the base combine with hydrogen ions (H+) to form water.