What is the Difference between an Acid and a Base?
An acid and a base (or alkaline) are both chemical compounds that change the pH, or the concentration of hydrogen ions, of water they are dissolved in. Acidic solutions have a low pH, under 7.0, while basic solutions have a pH of over 7.0. The pH of pure water is around 7.0 and is considered neutral. An acid and a base can be considered opposites of each other, and when they react with each other, neutralization occurs, producing a salt and water. A hydrogen ion is a bare proton, which carries a positive electrical charge. Atoms are made up of protons and negatively charged neutrons, and in their stable state, the number of protons and neutrons is equal, resulting in no net charge. Ions are molecules that do not have an equal number of protons and neutrons, resulting in a net positive or negative charge. A stable hydrogen atom has a single proton and a single neutron, so a bare proton is a positive hydrogen ion. While acids release hydrogen ions when dissolved in water, bases release h
ions, of water they are dissolved in. Acidic solutions have a low pH, under 7.0, while basic solutions have a pH of over 7.0. The pH of pure water is around 7.0 and is considered neutral. An acid and a base can be considered opposites of each other, and when they react with each other, neutralization occurs, producing salt and water.
