Acids vs Bases

[PriscillaLi_3G]

What differentiates an acid from a base?

[Reina Robles 2B]

Acids have a pH lower than 7, and they produce hydronium (H3O+) when they react with water. The Lewis definition of an acid states that it accepts an electron; the Bronsted definition states that it donates a proton.

Bases have a pH higher than 7, and they produce hydroxide (OH-) when they react with water. They donate an electron (Lewis definition) or accept a proton (Bronsted definition).

I hope this helps!

[Sukanya Mohapatra 2G]

Also, acids change litmus paper red while bases change litmus paper blue.

[Hailey Kim 4G]

Acids increase the concentration of H+ ions when dissolved in water, are proton donors, have a pH less than 7, and are sour in taste. Bases increase the concentration of OH- ions when dissolved in water, are proton acceptors, have a pH greater than 7, and are bitter in taste.

[Matthew ILG 1L]

In addition to the difference between acids and bases, there is also a difference between organic acids and bases vs inorganic acids and bases. Acids containing carbon are known as organic acids. Bases containing carbon are known as organic bases. Acids that do NOT contain carbon are known as inorganic acids or mineral acids. Bases that do NOT contain carbon are known as inorganic bases.

[AChoudhry_1L]

There are many distinctions between acids and bases. Some important ones to keep in mind are that acids generally have a pH lower than 7 and bases generally have a pH higher than 7. Acids are usually proton donors and bases are usually proton acceptors.