What Are Some Household Acids & Bases?
Household acids and bases are quite common in our everyday lives. They come in the form of foods and cleansers, liquids, gases and solids. In some cases, these acids and bases may serve several purposes in the home. The pH Scale The concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution is referred to as its potential hydrogen or pH. The pH measures the acidity or alkalinity (base) of a solution on a scale from 0 to 14. The numbers 0 to 6.9 are considered acidic and 7.1 to 14 are known as basic or alkaline. A pH number of 7 is recognized as neutral. We encounter both acidic and basic items on a daily basis. Acids Acid comes from the Latin word “acidus” and is recognized for its sour or sharp taste. Acids are known to produce hydrogen ions when dissolved in water; this activity changes a blue litmus indicator to red. This change in color signifies the acidity of an item or object. Bases Base is synonymous with basic and alkaline. Bases feel slippery to the touch, and those bases that can be diges
