ACIDS, BASES, and pH
Acids, Bases, and pH Vocabulary
Solution
 Acid
 Base
 pH scale
 Ion- an atom or molecule with a positive
(+) or negative (-) charge
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Solutions
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A solution is also called a homogenous
mixture, which is a mixture of two or
more substances that is identical
throughout.
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Many solutions have certain properties
that make them an acid or a base
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Acids
Acids are found in a your medicine cabinet,
refrigerator, and on your kitchen shelves
 Examples of acids include: aspirin, vitamin C,
eyewash, oranges, grapes, lemons, grapefruit ,
apples, milk, tea, pickles, vinegar and
carbonated drinks
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Why are acids important?
Food digestion! You could not digest food if it
were not for gastric acid in your stomach.
 The manufacture of dyes, synthetic fibers,
fertilizers, and explosives involves the use of
acids.
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Acids
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Acids taste sour when dissolved in
water
Produce a burning or prickly
feeling on the skin
Acids react with carbonates (like
baking soda) and most metals
Acids have a pH of less than 7
Produce hydrogen ions (H+)
when dissolved in water
Examples of acids can be found in
many foods such as; oranges,
tomatoes, vinegar, and lemons.
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Examples of Acids
Name
Formula
Uses
Hydrochloric
HCl
Sulfuric
H2SO4
Manufacturing paints, plastics,
fertilizers, dehydrating agent
Nitric
HNO3
Removing Tarninsh, making
explosives (TNT), Making fertilizers
Boric
H3BO3
Eye wash
Carbonic
H2CO3
Carbonating beverages
Phosphoric
H3PO4
Making fertilizers and detergents
Citric
H3C6H5O7
Cleaning bricks and metals,
digesting food
Making soft drinks
Bases
Bases are also found in household products.
 Examples of bases include: milk of magnesia,
deodorants, ammonia and soap.
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Bases
Bases taste bitter and feel
slippery or soapy.
Bases react with fatty acids and
oils to dissolve them
Bases have a pH of greater than
7
Produce hydroxide ions (OH-)
when dissolved in water
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Examples of bases: soap,
ammonia, antacids (Tums
or Rolaids), tooth paste,
baking soda, floor cleaner
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Examples of Bases
Name
Formula
Uses
Sodium Hydroxide
NaOh
Making soap, drain
cleaner
Potassium Hydroxide
KOH
Making soap, battery
electrolyte
Calcium Hydroxide
CaOH2
Leather production,
making plaster
Magnesium Hydroxide
MgOH2
Laxative, antacid
Ammonium Hydroxide
NH4OH
Household cleaner
Aluminum Hydroxide
AlOH3
Antacid, deodorant
pH scale
 The pH scale measures how acidic or basic a solution is,
on a scale of 0-14 and is a measurement of acidity.
 pH stands for “potential of hydrogen”, which refers to the
ions acids and bases release when dissolved in water.
The ions create a chemical reaction when in contact with
a pH indicator like red cabbage juice or pH paper, which
turns the indicator a different color.
 Acids have a pH below 7. The lower the pH, the stronger
the acid as that substance will release more hydrogen
ions when dissolved.
 Bases have a pH above 7. The higher the pH, the
stronger the base, as that substance will also release
more hydroxide ions when dissolved.
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Red Cabbage Juice pH Scale
Neutrals
A substance is considered neutral if it has
a pH of 7.
 Neutrals are neither an acid or a base.
 Example: Distilled (pure) water.
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