what is the difference between a base and an alkaline?

Answer 1

Base

A base in chemistry is a chemical substance which has a free pair of electrons to bind a Hydrogen ion commonly referred to as a proton (IUPAC definition). Another common definition of a base is a chemical compound that absorbs hydronium ions when dissolved in water (a proton acceptor) because protons do generally not occur in a free state. In chemical engineering, a base is a substance which receives protons in a chemical reaction. Many bases are strong reducents. Examples of simple bases are sodium hydroxide and ammonia.

Alkaline
In chemistry, an alkali (from Arabic: al-qaly) is a basic, ionic salt of an alkali metal or alkali earth metal element. Alkalis are best known for being bases (compounds with pH greater than 7) that dissolve in water. The adjective alkaline is commonly used in English as a synonym for basic, especially for soluble bases. This broad use of the term is likely because alkalis were the first bases known to obey the Arrhenius definition of a base and are still among the more common bases. Since Brønsted-Lowry acid-base theory, the term alkali in chemistry is normally restricted to those salts containing alkali and alkali earth metal elements.

Answer 2

The terms "base" and "alkali" are often used interchangeably, since most common bases are alkalis. It is common to speak of "measuring the alkalinity of soil" when what is actually meant is the measurement of the pH (base property). Similarly, bases which are not alkalis, such as ammonia, are sometimes erroneously referred to as alkaline.

Note that not all or even most salts formed by alkali metals are alkaline; this designation applies only to those salts which are basic.

While most electropositive metal oxides are basic, only the soluble alkali metal and alkali earth metal oxides can be correctly called alkalis.

This definition of an alkali as a basic salt of an alkali metal or alkali earth metal does appear to be the most common, based on dictionary definitions, however conflicting definitions of the term alkali do exist. These include:

o Any base that is water soluble. This is more accurately called an Arrhenius base.
o The solution of a base in water.


p.s. Bases ARE NOT neutral. By definition they have a pH above 7 (neutral).

Answer 3

the thing is alkaline is soluble in water but a base nednot be soluble in water

Answer 4

bases are neutral.