7 Difference Between Acid and Base

Acid and base or two categories of chemicals. Both of these terms are basic parts of chemistry. These terms play a vital role as well as other fields of science. We are always surrounded by acid and base. Daily life is incomplete without acid and base. Every liquid around us except water comes under acid and base. Sometimes it is very difficult to distinguish between them. In this article, we will discuss the difference between acid and base.

The difference between acid and base is based on three different theories. These theories are Arrhenius, Bronsted and Lewis theories. The substances or liquid that acts like both acid and base are known as Amphoterism. For example, water is the most common Amphoterism around us.

Acid vs base

Acid	Base
Acid donates protons.	Base donates electrons.
It accepts electrons from other substances.	Base accepts protons from other substances.
pH value less than 7.	Its pH value is greater than 7.
Sour taste.	Bitter taste
Turns blue litmus paper to red.	It turns red litmus paper to blue.
When react with water it remains colourless.	With the reaction of water, it turns into pink colour.
HCL, HNO3 examples of acids.	NaOH, KOH examples of Base.

What is acid

As discussed earlier three different theories give the definitions of the acid and base. As per Arrhenius theory acids are substances when they break off and are ionized in a liquid solution to form hydrogen ions. The next theory Bronsted theory it states that Acis are the substances that donate protons. It means the substance that gives H⁺ ions are known as acids. According to the third theory, acids are substances that accept electrons from other substances. That substance is known as the acidic substance.

From all these theories it is clear that the substances which release hydrogen ions H⁺ ions in an aqueous solution. Acids also donate the hydrogen ions H⁺ ions to the others substances and accept the electrons from the other substances. The substance which shows all about properties are known as acid.

General identifications of the acid

The pH scale reading of acid lies between 0 to 6 or less than 7. The acids have a sour taste when we taste them. When our skin comes in the contact with an acid it gives burning sensations. Most of the acids are obtained from natural sources. Acids are available with sticky nature.

Properties of the acids

• Good conductor of electricity.
• Acids blue litmus paper to red.
• Most of the acids are available in solid states.
• It contains a sour taste.
• pH value lies between 0 to 7.
• When reacted with the base and alkalis salt and water is produced.
• Some acids have corrosive nature.
• When acids react with active metals like zinc and aluminium, they produce hydrogen.

Types of acids

There are two types of acids Strong acids and weak acids. In water strong acids completely dissociate their ions and weak acids don’t dissociate their ions.

Strong acids

These are the acids that completely dissociate their ions in water. Strong aids donate all their protons. Only six strong acids available in nature are

• Nitric Acid (HNO₃)
• Hydrochloric Acid (HCL)
• Hydroiodic Acid (HI)
• Hydrobromic Acid (HBr)
• Chloric Acid (HCLO₃)
• Perchloric Acid (HCLO₄)

Weak Acids

These are the acids that don’t dissociate completely their ions in the water. Weak acid holds some of their protons. All the acids except 6 strong acids are weak acids.

Uses of Acids

We use acids in many ways. For example, we use sulfuric acid in the manufacturing of paints, fertilisers, detergents and some explosives. Nitric acid is used for making explosives like TNT. HCL is used to remove oxides.

What is Base

The chemicals which are able to accept protons and donate the electrons to the other substance are known as base. The base has a tendency to release OH^– in an aqueous solution.

The base which is completely ionised in water and produce a large number of OH- ions are known as a strong base.

General identifications of base

The pH value of the base is greater than 7. The base is slippery in nature when we touch them. The taste of the base is bitter. A general example of a base is soap.

Properties of base

• pH value is greater than 7.
• Bitter taste.
• It turns litmus paper red to blue.
• It conducts electricity When aqueous-based solutions are dissociated into ions.

Types of base

1. Strong base
2. Weak Bases
3. Neutral Base
4. Super Base
5. Solid Base.

Uses of base

There are many uses of the base. We use bases for soap and paper manufacturing. Calcium oxide is used to make leaching powder. Magnesium oxide is known milk of magnesia.

The key difference between acid and base

Sr.no	Acid	Base
1	The substances which release hydrogen ions H+ ions in an aqueous solution. Acids also donate the hydrogen ions H+ ions to the others substances and accept the electrons from the other substances.	The chemicals which are able to accept protons and donate the electrons to the other substance are known as base. The base has a tendency to release OH– in an aqueous solution.
2	Proton doner	Electron donor
3	Accepts electrons	Accepts proton
4	pH value less than 7.	Base pH value is always greater than 7.
5	When dissolved in water acids remains colourless.	It turns the solutions pink when dissolved in water.
6	Acid turns litmus paper blue to red.	The base turns litmus paper red to blue.
7	When dissolved in water acids release H+ ions.	When dissolve in water Base release OH– ions.
8	Sour taste.	Bitter taste.
9	It depends upon the temperature. They exist in sold liquid and gas stages.	Bases are solid in nature only ammonia is available in the gas stage.
10	Sticky in nature	Slippery in nature.
11	The chemical formula of acids mostly starts with H.	The chemical formula of bases mostly ends with OH.
12	Used as fertilisers, household cleaning and preservations.	Used in soap, cleaner, detergents etc.
13	HCL, HNO3 are examples of acid.	NaOH, KOH are examples of the base.

Conclusion

Acid and base are very important in our daily life. They play an important role in many science subjects and fields. Our daily life will be very difficult without acid and base. We should have basic knowledge about acid and base. Acids are more dangerous to humane Ings than the base so we should have little Knowle about that.

This is basic knowledge about the difference between acid and base. We hope you understand the concept very well. If you have any suggestions, please comment on us.

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