Acids, Bases, and Neutrals Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards reviewing the core terminology, definitions, and concepts of acids, bases, and neutrals.

Acids

Substances with a sour taste that feel rough on the skin.

Bases

Substances with a bitter taste that feel slippery.

Properties

The behaviour and characteristics of a substance.

Corrosive

Describing a substance that eats through clothing, stonework, and metals, and burns the skin.

Four Tastes

The four different tastes that the human tongue can sense: salty, sweet, sour, and bitter.

Citrus Fruits

Fruits like oranges and lemons that contain citric acid.

Citric Acid

A weak natural acid found in lemon juice and citrus fruits.

Ethanoic Acid

The scientific name for vinegar, often used in sauces and salad dressings.

Lactic Acid

An acid found in sour milk that causes its sour taste when left outside the fridge.

Carbonic Acid

An acid found in fizzy cooldrinks that improves flavour, balances sweetness, and gives a tangy taste.

Hydrochloric Acid

A strong acid produced by the stomach that helps digest food.

Caffeine

A substance found in coffee that is a base and gives coffee its bitter taste.

Origin of the Word 'Acid'

Derived from the Latin words acere and acidus, which mean sour.

Dilute

To make an acid weaker, such as by rinsing skin with water under a running tap.

Toothpaste

A household substance that is a base used to clean teeth.

Strong Acids

Dangerous acids (such as hydrochloric acid) that are corrosive, can burn skin, eat through materials, and damage nose membranes if smelled.

Weak Acids

Acids that are less dangerous than strong acids, including citric acid, ethanoic acid, lactic acid, and carbonic acid.