Question

Explain why lime juice has a sour taste while lime water is slightly bitter.

Answer 1

Acids:

1. An acid is a hydrogen-containing substance that can donate hydrogen ions (H⁺) to another susbtance.
2. Generally, acids are sour in taste.

Bases:

1. A base is a substance that either releases hydroxide ions (OH^-) or accepts hydrogen ions (H⁺).
2. Generally, a base tastes bitter.

Lime Juice:

Lime juice has citric acid in it and due to this lime juice tastes sour as most acids taste sour.

Lime water:

Lime water is actually an aqueous solution of calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH)₂. Thus, lime water is basic in nature and hence tastes bitter.

Hence, lime juice has a sour taste due to its acidic nature while lime water is slightly bitter due to its basic nature.