Acids and Bases how can you tell?

Answer 1

Using the Bronsted-Lowrey definition of acids and bases is probably the easiest one to understand. Acids are compounds which readily give up hydrogens. Some examples include: H2SO4, HNO3, and HCl. Bases are compounds which readily accept hydrogens. Some examples include: NaOH, KOH, Na2CO3, and NaHCO3. I hope this helps.

Answer 2

Acids taste sour while Bases taste bitter and has a soapy feel


Some tests on Acids and Bases:

A) Reaction with Metals:
Acids react with metals to give a salt and liberates hydrogen gas. Effervesence is observed in this reaction. To test for hydrogen gas, place a lighted splint near where the gas is given off & a pop sound would be heard

Acid + Metal >> Salt + Hydrogen

this does not apply to nitric acid (HNO3) as it gives off a salt, water and nitrogen dioxide gas (NO2)

B) Reaction with Carbonates
Acids reacts with carbonates to give a salt, water and carbon dioxide gas. To test for carbon dioxide gas, pass the gas into limewater (aka Ca(OH)2) and a white precipitate (CaCO3) will appear. Excess carbon dioxide will turn to form a colorless solution (calcium hydrogen carbonate, Ca(HCO)3).

C) Testing with indicators
Different indicators will shown different results for acids and bases

i) Litmus Paper Test
RED Litmus Paper on Acid: no color change
on Base : turns blue

BLUE litmus paper on Acid: turns red
Base: no color change

ii) Methyl Orange
Turns red in acidic and yellow in basic/alkaline solutions

iii) Phenolphthatelein
No color change in acidic but turns pink in basic/alkaline solutions

iv) Bromothymol Blue
Turns yellow in acidic but no change in basic/alkaline solution

vi) Universal Indicator
This indicator tells you the pH of acids
For acids, the pH are as follows:
1,2: red
3,4: orange
5,6: yellow

if a soluton has a pH of 7, the solution is neither acidic or basic. It is neutral (e.g. water, NaCl solution)

For bases, the pH are as follows:
8,9,10 : blue-green
11,12 : blue
13,14: violet

FYI: red cabbage juice can also act as an indicator too. It turns red in acidic solution and green in basic/alkaline solutions.

Answer 3

Acids: ( donate a proton, taste sour, turn litmus red, release a hydrogen ion in a solution)

Bases: (accept a proton, taste bitter, turn litmus to blue, release a hydroxide ion in a solution, and feel slippery)

Answer 4

bases are slippery, for exaple, soap is a base , I learned this in seventh grade but im sure acids change colors when going through a chemical reaction.

Answer 5

acids always have H+ ion. Bases most of the time have OH-

Answer 6

acids start with an "H" in their chemical formula. Or if you are trying to find out about an unknown liquid get some PH paper or litmus strips. or you could always make cabbage juice.

Answer 7

the color changes on litmus paper. if the litmus paper changes red, it is an acid . if it changes blue, it is a base. for more accurate results, a universal indicator is used.

Answer 8

bases are slippery and bitter acids are the opposite they are sour

Answer 9

Depending on the reactions they give.