How Do Acids & Bases Differ?

Acids and bases, or alkali, are substances that create ionic activity when dissolved as a solution in water. They differ in chemical properties, how they react with other substances, as well as in physical properties.

Identification

With a few exceptions, chemical formulas for acids always begin with a hydrogen cation, and bases always end with a hydroxyl anion. Sulfuric acid, for example, has the formula H2SO4, and the common base lye, or sodium hydroxide, has the formula NaOH.

pH

The pH stands for potential of hydrogen, and is measured on a scale from 0 to 14. Bases, which release hydrogen into a solution, have a pH number above seven, and acids, which remove hydrogen from a solution, have a pH number below seven.

Litmus

Litmus paper contains dyes that react to both acids and bases. Acidic solutions turn blue litmus paper red, and basic solutions turn red litmus paper blue.

Effects

Strong acids and bases both are potentially dangerous but have different effects on skin and tissues. Acids eat away at other materials trying to gain an electron to balance their hydrogen cation, making them corrosive, while bases can burn tissue as they try to pass off their hydroxyl ion, making them caustic.

Taste

Many foods, such as citrus fruit and cabbage, contain acids, which give them a sour taste. Few foods contain bases, but a base gives a substance a bitter taste, as anyone who has had a mouth washed out with soap could attest.

References

• Virginia Tech
• ChemTutor.com

Resources

• Common acids and bases