What are Acids?
The term acid is derived from the Latin word ‘acidus’ or ‘acere’, which means sour. The most common characteristic is their sour taste. An acid is a substance that renders an ionizable hydronium ion (H3O+) in its aqueous solution. It turns blue litmus paper red.
The following image represents the aqueous solution of the acid.
Acids can be present in a variety of things, including food, but their presence in several fruits is particularly notable. For example
- Curd – Lactic Acid
- Vinegar – Acetic Acid
- Orange – Citric Acid
- Tamarind – Tartaric Acid
- Tomato – Oxalic Acid
- Lemon – Citric Acid
When acids react with metals, hydrogen gas is produced. All acids have hydrogen as a component.
Metal + Acid ⇢ Salt + Hydrogen
Acids and Bases
An acid is a substance that is capable of donating a proton (hydrogen ion) to another substance. A base is a molecule able to donate OH- ion/strong>. Acidic substances are usually identified by their sour taste.
Acids have a sour taste and are corrosive i.e. exposure to acid on human skin can cause blisters. Some examples of acids are HCl, H2SO4, and others.
Let’s learn more about acids and bases, their properties, theories, and others in this article.
Table of Content
- What are Acids?
- What are Bases?
- Acid Bases Titration
- pH of Acid and Base
- Difference between Acids and Bases
- Acid-Base Reaction
- Acid-Base Indicator Definition