Question

What is the difference between acids and bases with cheap reactions

Answer 1

Key Differences Between Acid and Base

Following are the important points which differentiate the acids to that of base:

1. According to Arrhenius concept: Acid is the substance when dissolved in water, increases the concentration of H⁺ions, whereas the base is the substance when dissolved in water, increase the concentration of OH^– ions.
2. On the other hand, Bronsted-Lowry concept says that acids are the proton donor, while the base is the proton acceptor.
3. Lewis theory explains them as such species that accepts the pair of electrons (an electrophile) and will have vacant orbitals are known as Lewis acid while such species that donates the pair of an electron (a nucleophile) and will have a lone pair of electrons are known as Lewis base.
4. The chemical formula of acid begins with H, for example, HCl (Hydrochloric acid), H3BO3 (Boric acid), CH2O3 (Carbonic acid). Although
   CH3COOH (Acetic acid) is an exception whereas such compounds whose chemical formula ends with OH, for example, KOH (Potassium
   hydroxide), NaOH (Sodium hydroxide) is known as the base. pH scale (concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution) is less than seven whereas it is greater than 7 in the base.
5. Acids are sour, gives burning sensation, generally sticky, reacts with metals to produce hydrogen gas. Although bases are opposite as they are bitter, generally odorless (except ammonia), they are slippery; bases react with fats and oils.
6. In phenolphthalein, indicator acids remain colorless, and base givespink color. Though in litmus paper test acids turn blue litmus paper to red and red litmus paper to blue.
7. The strength of acids depends on the concentration of hydronium ions while the strength depends on the concentration of hydroxide ions.
8. Acids dissociate to give free hydrogen ions (H⁺) when mixed in water, whereas bases dissociate to give free hydroxide ions (OH^–) when mixed in water.
9. Few examples of acids are Hydrochloric acid (HCl), Sulphuric acid (H2SO4), Nitric acid (HNO3), Carbonic acid (H2CO3). The examples of bases are Ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH), Calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2), Sodium hydroxide (NaOH).