Science 101: Acids, Bases, and Salts

Vocabulary flashcards covering the definitions and properties of acids, bases, salts, and the pH scale based on Science 101 lecture notes.

Acid

A substance that produces hydrogen ions ($H^+$) when dissolved in water, has a sour taste, and typically has a pH lower than 7.

Arrhenius acid

A substance that releases hydrogen ions ($H^+$) in water, which combine with water molecules to form hydronium ions ($H_3O^+$).

Brønsted-Lowry acid

A substance that donates a proton ($H^+$) to another substance.

Lewis acid

A substance that accepts a pair of electrons, focusing on electron transfer rather than hydrogen ions.

Hydrochloric acid ($HCl$)

An acid used in the transcript as an example of a substance releasing $H^+$ in water.

Sulfuric acid ($H_2SO_4$)

A common example of an acid provided in the lecture notes.

Acetic acid ($CH_3COOH$)

A type of acid found in vinegar.

Citric acid

A type of acid found in citrus fruits such as lemons and oranges.

Base

A substance that usually produces hydroxide ions ($OH^-$) in water, tastes bitter, feels slippery or soapy, and has a pH greater than 7.

Arrhenius base

A substance that releases hydroxide ions ($OH^-$) when dissolved in water, such as calcium hydroxide ($Ca(OH)_2$).

Brønsted-Lowry base

A substance that accepts a proton ($H^+$) from another substance.

Lewis base

A substance that donates a pair of electrons.

Salt

An ionic compound formed from the reaction between an acid and a base, usually existing as crystalline solids.

Neutralization Reaction

A process occurring when $H^+$ ions from acids combine with $OH^-$ ions from bases to form water ($H_2O$) and a salt.

pH Scale

A scale ranging from 0 to 14 that measures how acidic or basic a substance is, developed by S. P. L. Sørensen in 1909.

S. P. L. Sørensen

The scientist (Søren Peter Lauritz Sørensen) who developed the pH scale.

Neutral

A substance with a pH of 7, such as pure water.

Logarithmic

The mathematical nature of the pH scale where a change of 1 pH unit represents a tenfold change in acidity or basicity.

Alkaline

Another term used to describe a substance with a pH above 7 (basic).