What is the difference between an acid and a base?

An acid when dissolved in a liquid, will produce hydrogen ions (H+) while a base will produce hydroxide ions (OH-). When a litmus paper is used to test acids and bases, acids turn the litmus paper red while bases turn the litmus paper blue. On the pH scale (1-14), acids have pH less than 7 while bases have pH greater than seven.

LS

Related Chemistry A Level answers

All answers ▸

Why is the bond angle in an amide ion smaller than the bond angle in a molecule of ammonia?


Explain the difference between homolytic fission and heterolytic fission.


Describe and explain the trend of reactivity of group 2 metals with water


A compound, HOCH2CH2CH2CH2COCl, reacts with itself to give a new compound. Give the IUPAC name for the starting compound, draw the mechanism for the formation of the new compound and give the prominant feature of the IR spectrum of the new compound.