Acids and Bases

Acids are substances that produce hydronium ions when added to water. Acids are usually found in liquid form and have corrosive properties. Acids are made by dissolving gaseous compounds into water. When hydrogen chloride is dissolved into water it creates a strong acid called hydrochloric acid.

Bases are substances that produce hydroxide ions when added to water. A solution that has a strong concentration of hydroxide ions is called a basic solution. bases are used to neutraize acids. An example is when baking soda is mixed with vinegar, an acid, and the reaction results in sodium chloride which is neutral.

pH is a term that is used to describe the acidic and basic strengths of solutions. The scale ranges from 0-14. 0 being the most acidic and 14 being the most basic. If a solution has a pH of eight or above, it is basic. If it has five or below, it is acidic. If its pH is exactly 7 then it is neutral.