Acids and bases

Acids

Strong acids are corrosivecorrosive

Some are weaker and are found in everyday things:

  • CitricacidCitric acid: lemons, oranges and other citrus fruits
  • CarbonicCarbonic acid: rain water and fizzy drinks
  • LacticacidLactic acid: sour milk and anaerobic respiration
  • HydrochloricacidHydrochloric acid: stomach

Acids turn litmuspaperlitmus paper ==red==

Acids are chemicaloppositeschemical opposites to bases

Bases

Bases that dissolve in water are called alkalialkali

Strong bases are also corrosivecorrosive

Bases turn litmuslitmus ^^blue^^

Bases are chemicaloppositeschemical opposites to acids

The pH scale

The scale goes from 0140-14

Shows how strongstrong an acid or a base is

  • Less than 7: acidacid
  • More than 7: basebase
  • 7: neutralneutral

NeutralNeutral: neither an acid or base, no change in colour

  • Closer to 0: strongerstronger acid
  • Closer to 14: strongerstronger base

The pH can be found using UniversalIndicatorUniversal Indicator Paper (UI)

UI paper changescolourchanges colour to show the pH

pH can also be measured by an electronicsensorelectronic sensor => pH meter