What Are Acid-Base Reactions?
Acid-base reactions are chemical reactions that occur between acids and bases. An acid is a substance that, when dissolved in water, has greater hydrogen ion activity than pure water does, while a base is a substance that, when dissolved in water, can accept hydrogen ions. The acidity of a solution is measured based on the pH scale; a substance with a pH less than seven is acidic while a solution with a pH greater than seven is basic. There are many different explanations and forms of acid-base reactions, as they can occur in many different ways and have been studied by a number of different chemists. There are several different properties that define acids and bases other than whether they can give or receive hydrogen ions. Acids change blue litmus paper to red, have a sour taste, and react with some metals to liberate oxygen. Bases, on the other hand, change red litmus paper to blue, have a bitter taste, and often have a slippery feeling. Both acids and bases conduct electricity.
