What are Acids, Bases, Salts? – Properties, Uses, Difference
We use multiple kinds of acidic and basic substances in our daily lives. Certain acidic compounds are naturally derived, such as citric acid in fruits, whereas others, such as sulphuric acid, are synthesized. When acids and bases come into touch with each other, they react to generate salt and water.
Fundamentally, the varied percentage of acids, bases, and salt content in a chemical composition determines the taste of things, be it sweet, tangy, salty, or sour. In this article let us learn:
What is an acid?
What is a base?
What is a salt?
Also, let us attempt to understand better the processes of ionization and dissociation.
What are Acids?
The word acid is derived from the Latin word ‘acidus’ or ‘acere,’ which means sour. The most prevalent feature is their acidic flavor. In its liquid solution, an acid produces an ionizable hydronium ion (H3O+). It causes blue litmus paper to become red. They dissociate in an aqueous solution to create their component ions.
Examples of Acids
They are classified into two groups based on their occurrence: natural and mineral acids. Natural acids come from natural sources. Mineral acids are acids that are made from minerals.
Acids are always there in many of the foods we consume. Citrus fruits, such as oranges and lemons, contain citric acid as well as ascorbic acid, also known as vitamin C. Phosphoric acid is present in carbonated beverages. Acetic acid is found in vinegar. Hydrochloric acid is used by your stomach to break down meals. Because of the characteristics of their aqueous solutions, acids constitute a unique class of chemicals.
Properties of Acids
- Acids are naturally corrosive: They tend to hasten the process. The more acidic or alkaline content, substance will be more corrosive in its nature
- Acids are excellent electrical conductors: This is because, when acids are dissolved in water, they release the H+. Since the ions are charged, they turn into excellent charge carriers, enabling conductivity due to the movement of ions.
- Acids’ pH levels will always be lower than 7: In chemistry, pH refers to the relative presence of hydrogen and hydroxyl ions in oxygen. Therefore, water with presence of more hydrogen ions is acidic in nature.
- When reacted with metals, acids’ chemicals create hydrogen gas.
- Acids have a sour flavor. This is because of the concentration of hydrogen ions.
What are Bases?
A base is a chemical that produces the hydroxyl ion (OH-) in an aqueous solution. Bases are distinguished by flavor and texture. Bases turn red litmus paper to blue. The primary difference between acids and bases is, that acids produce hydrogen ions, while bases accept them.
Certain traits like the bitterness of a substance denote bases and their basic character. The bases feel slippery, too. Dream about 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.
Properties of Bases
- Bases have a soapy, slippery texture and a bitter taste due to their alkaline nature
- When these chemicals are dissolved in water, they emit hydroxide ions (OH- ions).
- Bases are strong conductors of electricity in their aqueous solutions.
- The free electron in a reaction that leads to hydroxide ion enables electric charge in the aqueous solution. Thus, bases are recognized as good conductors of electricity.
- Bases pH values are always greater than 7. Generally, bases’ pH value ranges between 8 and 14, indicating the relative presence of free hydrogen and hydroxyl ions in the water. More free hydroxylic acids in the water infers it is base.
What are Salts?
Salt is an ionic substance formed by the neutralization of acids and bases. Salts are made up of positively charged ions called cations and negatively charged ions called anions, which can be organic or inorganic in composition. As the ions are present in little amounts, the salt’s nature is neutral.
Properties of Salts
- Since they are ionic compounds, they conduct electricity in both the molten and aqueous states.
- These are non-volatile solids that are hard, brittle, and crystalline.
- The majority of the salts are water-soluble. For example, all sodium, potassium, and ammonium salts are water-soluble.
Concept of pH
The pH scale (pH stands for ‘potential of hydrogen’) is used to determine the acidity or basicity level. In this case, the pH scale is the most widely used and trusted method for determining how acidic or basic a chemical is. A pH scale measure can also range from 0 to 14, with 14 being the most basic and 0 being the most acidic.
Theories of Acids and Bases
Three Theories have been proposed to define acids and bases. They are the Arrhenius theory, the Bronsted-Lowry theory, and the Lewis theory.
Arrhenius’s Concept of Acids and Bases
According to the Arrhenius theory of acids and bases, “an acid generates H+ ions in a solution, whereas a base generates an OH- ion in its solution.” The theory is named after Swedish scientist Svante August Arrhenius who gave the definition of acids as substances that enhance the H+ ion concentration of water when dissolved in it. In the same fashion, his definition of a base terms them as those that increase the concentration of OH– ions of the substances when they are dissolved in water. The theory, however, does not explain the properties of the substances without hydroxide ions.
Bronsted Lowry’s Theory of Acids and Bases
According to the Bronsted-Lowry theory, “an acid is a proton giver and a base is a proton acceptor.” The theory talks about how acids go through dissociation to produce protons and increase the H ions in a solution, and vice versa for bases.
Lewis’s theory of Acids and Bases
Lastly, the Lewis definition of acids and bases states that “acids are electron acceptors and bases are electron givers.” The theory is explained without incorporating hydrogen atoms in the definition of either acids or bases. The acids are electrophilic and bases are nucleophilic. The theory defines several compounds as acids and bases, but does not elaborate on their strengths.
Uses of Acids, Bases, Salts
The following are some uses of acid, base, and salts:
Uses of Acids
Vinegar, a diluted solution of acetic acid, has a variety of domestic purposes. Used as a food preservative.
Orange juice and lemon juice both contain citric acid. Which is also used to preserve food.
In batteries, sulfuric acid is more commonly utilized. This acid is commonly found in batteries used to start vehicle motors.
Nitric acid and sulfuric acid are used in the industrial manufacturing of dyes, explosives, paints, and fertilizers.
Phosphoric acid is a key component in many soft drinks.
Uses of Bases
Sodium hydroxide is used in the production of paper and soap. NaOH is also used in the production of rayon.
Ca (OH)2, commonly known as calcium hydroxide or slaked lime, is used to make bleaching powder.
A little quantity of calcium hydroxide is utilized in dry mixtures used in decorating or painting.
Magnesium hydroxide, popularly known as magnesia milk, is most typically used as a laxative. It also helps to lower excess acidity in the human stomach and is thus used as an antacid.
In labs, ammonium hydroxide is a critical reagent.
Slaked lime is used to reduce excess acidity in soils.
Uses of Salts
Salts, on the other hand, may be employed in the business industry to preserve and cure goods and services. They may also be used to make various chemical components such as sodium bicarbonate, hydrochloric acid, sodium hydroxide, and chlorine.
Difference Between Acids, Bases, Salts
| Acids | Bases | Salts |
| When acid is dissolved in water, it emits hydrogen ions. | When bases are dissolved in water, they emit the hydroxyl ion. | When an acid and a base mix and are neutralized, salts and water are created. |
| It converts blue litmus paper to red. | It converts red litmus paper to blue. | Salts have no impact on either the blue or the red litmus paper. |
| It has a sour flavor. | It has a bitter flavor and feels soapy to the touch. | It has a sour flavor. |
| It has a pH range of 1 to 7. | It has a pH range of 7 to 14. | It has a fixed pH of 7. |
| Examples: HCl, H2SO4, and others. | Examples: NaOH, KOH etc. | Examples: NaCl, KCl, CaCl2, NaHSO4, etc. |
What is Ionization?
Ionization of a compound denotes the chemical process in which a neutral molecule breaks into charged ions, once it is exposed to a solution. A solvent is applied to dissolve the compound that eventually produces positive and negative ions. These are called electrolytes. The level of ionization is determined by the ratio of the number of molecules that go through dissociation to the total number of molecules.
𝞪 = number of molecules undergoing dissociation/ total number of molecules
Where 𝞪 is called as the degree of ionization
According to Arrhenius’s theory which explains the ionization of acids and bases in an aqueous medium, on the basis of the degree of ionization of acids and bases, one can ascertain their strengths. The degree varies among different acidic and basic compounds. There are acids that are identified as strong ones, such as perchloric acid (HClO4), and hydrochloric acid (HCl), because they dissociate completely into their constituent ions in the aqueous medium. In the same fashion, certain bases such as lithium hydroxide (LiOH), and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) also totally dissociate into their ions in an aqueous medium, and are thus referred to as strong bases.
Dissociation
Dissociation is a chemical process in which a compound breaks into ions. Ionic compounds (e.g. NaCl), acids, and bases dissociate in water. A strong acid or base will totally disassociate, referring to the acid-forming two ions, and its conjugate base. Dissociation is greater and complete in strong acids due to their conjugate base being is weaker than water. This infers a lack of no equilibrium in the solution because the bases do not have the required strength to bond to an H+ ion. This is the same for bases, though a strong base has an OH− ion.
Conclusion
Register with Tutoroot online interactive classes to learn more about acids, bases, and salts, the pH scale, and other related topics.
FAQ’s
Is water an acid or a base?
Pure water has neither acidic nor basic properties; it is neutral.
What are Conjugate Acids and Bases?
A conjugate acid and base is a pair that consists of two substances that differ only by the presence of a proton (H⁺).
What is Acid?
The word acid is derived from the Latin word ‘acidus’ or ‘acere,’ which means sour. The most prevalent feature is their acidic flavor. In its liquid solution, an acid produces an ionizable hydronium ion (H3O+). It causes blue litmus paper to become red. They dissociate in an aqueous solution to create their component ions.
What is Base?
A base is a chemical that produces the hydroxyl ion (OH-) in an aqueous solution. Bases are distinguished by flavor and texture. Bases turn red litmus paper to blue. The primary difference between acids and bases is, that acids produce hydrogen ions, while bases accept them.
What is Salt?
Salt is an ionic substance formed by the neutralization of acids and bases. Salts are made up of positively charged ions called cations and negatively charged ions called anions, which can be organic or inorganic in composition. As the ions are present in little amounts, the salt’s nature is neutral.