What is the difference between Acid and Base?

Such substances that donate their hydrogen ion (H+) (proton donor) and accepts
the electron to another is called an acid. They have pH less than 7.0. But such
substances that accept the proton and donate electron is called as the base. They
have pH more than 7.0. Acids are sour, while bases are bitter.
Acids and Bases are one of the most important parts of chemistry, but also play
their significant role in another field of science. There are many definitions which
differentiate the substances as acid and base, but the most accepted are the
Arrhenius theory, Bronsted-Lowry theory and the Lewis theory of acid/base.
Together acids and bases react to form salts.

Acids and Bases are everywhere, right from the soaps used during the shower to
the citric acid or vinegar present in the kitchen. Though it is sometimes difficult
to distinguish between them and so to check them, certain theories were provided
which are discussed below along with brief description.

Comparison Chart

BASIS FOR
ACIDS BASES
COMPARISON

Arrhenius Concept Acid is the substance when The base is the substance
dissolved in water, when dissolved in water,
increases the increase the concentration of
concentration of H+ ions. OH- ions.

Bronsted-Lowry Acids are the proton Bases are the proton

Concept donor. acceptor.

Lewis Concept Such species that accepts
the pair of electrons (an
electrophile) and will have
vacant orbitals are known
as Lewis acid.
Such species that donates the
pair of the electron (a
nucleophile) and will have a
lone pair of electrons are
known as Lewis base.
 BASIS FOR
ACIDS BASES
COMPARISON

Chemical formula Such compound whose Such compounds whose

chemical formula begins chemical formula ends with
with H, for example HCl OH, for example KOH
(Hydrochloric acid), (Potassium hydroxide),
H3BO3 (Boric acid), NaOH (Sodium hydroxide).
CH2O3 (Carbonic
acid). Although
CH3COOH (Acetic acid) is
an exception.

pH scale Less than 7. Greater than 7.

(concentration of
hydrogen ions in a
solution)

Physical Sour in taste. Bitter in taste.

Characteristics
Gives burning sensation. Odorless (except ammonia).

Acids are usually sticky. Bases are slippery.

Reacts with metals to Reacts with fats and oils.

produce hydrogen gas.

Phenolphthalein It remains colorless. It gives pink color.

Indicator

Litmus test Turns blue litmus paper to Turns red litmus paper to
red. blue.

Strength Depends on the Depends on the

concentration of concentration of hydroxide
hydronium ions. ions.
 BASIS FOR
ACIDS BASES
COMPARISON

Dissociation when Acids dissociate to give Bases dissociate to give free

mixed with water free hydrogen ions (H+) hydroxide ions (OH-) after
after mixing in water. mixing in water.

Examples Hydrochloric acid (HCl), Ammonium hydroxide

Sulphuric acid (H2SO4), (NH4OH), Calcium
Nitric acid (HNO3), hydroxide (Ca(OH)2),
Carbonic acid (H2CO3). Sodium hydroxide (NaOH).

Uses Used as preservatives, Used in gastric medicine

fertilizers, as (antacid), soaps, detergents,
preservatives, used as cleanser, antiperspirant
carbonated drinks, armpit deodorant, non-
processing leather, hazardous alkali to neutralise
household cleaning, acidic wastewater, neutralise
making sodas, flavor to soil acidity.
food, etc.

Definition of Acid
The word acid derived from the latin word ‘acids’ or ‘acere’, which means “sour”.
An acid is the chemical substances that accept electrons and donates hydrogen
ions or protons. Most acids containing hydrogen bonded atoms dissociate to give
cation and anion in water.

Acidity is measured by the presence of some hydrogen ions, so higher the

hydrogen ions concentration, the higher is the acidity and the lower the pH of the
solutions. It is measured in scale between 1-7 (7 is neutral ) in pH meter
scale.

Some acids are strong, and some are weak. Strong acids are those which
completely dissociate in water, for example, hydrochloric acid, which completely
dissociates into ions when dissolved in water. Such acids which partly dissociates
in water and hence the solution contains water, acid, and ions are called weak
acids, for example, acetic acid.
Mainly acids are defined in many ways, but Arrhenius or Bronsted-Lowry acid is
acceptable. Although Lewis acid is called as “Lewis acid”, as these definitions do
not include the same set of molecules.

Arrhenius Concept – It can be defined as the substance when added to water,

increases the concentration of hydrogen ion (H+) is called an acid.

Bronsted-Lowry Concept – In this, the acid is said to be as the proton donor.

This theory defines the substances, without dissolving in water and so it is widely
used and accepted.

Lewis acid – There are certain compounds which do not contain hydrogen
atom, but qualify as acid like boron trifluoride, aluminum trichloride. So such
compound which accepts the electron pair to form a covalent bond is called as
Lewis acid.

Properties of acids

 Corrosive (‘burns’ your skin).

 Has pH less than 7.
 Turns blue litmus paper into red color.
 Reacts with metals to produce hydrogen gas.
 Reacts with bases to produce salt and water.
 Reacts with carbonates to form carbon dioxide, water, and salt.
 Sour taste.
 Dissociate the hydrogen ions (H+) when dissolved in water.

Importance
Biologically nucleic acids such as DNA (Deoxy ribonucleic acids) and RNA
(Ribonucleic acids) contain the genetic information and other are heredity
material which is transferred from one generation to another. Even the amino
acids are of great of great importance as they help in making proteins. Fatty acids
and its derivatives are the groups of carboxylic acids also play a significant role.

Even the hydrochloric acids, which is the part of gastric acid secreted in a
stomach of animals helps in hydrolyzing proteins and polysaccharides. Acids are
also helpful by acting in defense mechanism like in ants which produce formic
acid, while octopi produce a black acid called as melanin.
Other acids like lactic acid, vinegar, sulfuric acid, citric acid are found in nature
are known for their different and important uses.

Definition of Base
Bases donate electrons and accept hydrogen ions or protons. Bases can be said as
the chemical just opposite to that of acid, as in water the role of the base is to
reduce the concentration of hydronium (H3O+) ion while acid act in increasing the
concentration. Although it is seen that some strong acids serve as bases also.
Bases are measured between the 7-14 range in pH meter scale.

However, there is a lot of confusion between bases and alkalis. Many bases do not
dissolve in water, but if a base dissolves in water, it is called an alkali. When in
an aqueous solution a base reacts with an acid and the solution becomes neutral,
it is called neutralization reaction.

For example, Sodium hydroxide is a base as well as an alkali, as it neutralizes the

acids in any acid-base reaction; secondly, it is soluble in water. On the other
hand, the Copper oxide is a base but not an alkali as it neutralizes the acid in
aqueous solution but does not dissolve in water.

A strong base is a chemical compound that gets deprotonated or removes a

proton (H+) from a molecule of a very weak acid in an acid-base reaction.
Hydroxides of alkali metals and alkaline earth metals like Sodium hydroxide and
Calcium hydroxide respectively are the examples of the strong base. The weak
base is the substance that does not ionize completely in an aqueous solution, or
their protonation is incomplete.

Arrhenius Concept – The substance which produces hydroxide ions (OH–) in

an aqueous solution is called as the base. For example, sodium hydroxide
(NaOH) dissociates in water and gives Na+and OH– ions. Such substances like
LiOH, Ba(OH)2, NaOH can be said as Arrhenius base. But this theory was limited
to the substances which contain hydroxide in their formula and was applicable in
the aqueous solutions only. Due to this another concept called as Bronsted-Lowry
theory came into existence.

Bronsted-Lowry Concept – According to this theory, a substance that can

accept hydrogen ions (H+) or protons is known as the base.

Lewis Base – One of the most widely accepted concept, after the Bronsted-
Lowry concept of acids and bases. An atom, molecule or an ion with a lone-pair of
electrons can be said as Lewis base as these bases are Nucleophilic. It means with
the help of lone pair they attack the positive charge of the molecule. NH3 is a
Lewis base. In other words, we can say that substance like OH– ion, that can
donate a couple of nonbonding electrons are said as Lewis base or electron-pair
donor.

Properties of Base

 Corrosive (‘burns’ your skin).

 Has pH more than 7.
 Turns red litmus paper into blue color.
 Soapy feel or slippery to touch.
 Reacts with acids to produce salt and water.
 Many soluble bases contain hydroxyl ions (OH–).

Importance
Bases (Sodium hydroxide) are used in manufacturing paper, soap, and the fiber
called rayon. Calcium hydroxide is used as bleaching powder. Magnesium
hydroxide used as ‘antacid’ which is used at the time of indigestion and to reduce
the effect of access to stomach produced. Bases like Sodium carbonate is used as
washing soda and for softening the hard water. Sodium hydrogen is also used in
preparations of baking powders, as baking soda, and also in the fire extinguisher.

Amphoteric substances are those which have the characteristics of an acid

and a base; even they are capable of accepting and donating a proton, like water.

Key Differences Between Acid and Base

Following are the important points which differentiate the acids to that of base:

1. According to Arrhenius concept: Acid is the substance when dissolved in

water, increases the concentration of H+ions, whereas the base is the
substance when dissolved in water, increase the concentration of OH– ions.
2. On the other hand, Bronsted-Lowry concept says that acids are the
proton donor, while the base is the proton acceptor.
3. Lewis theory explains them as such species that accepts the pair of
electrons (an electrophile) and will have vacant orbitals are known as Lewis
acid while such species that donates the pair of an electron (a nucleophile)
and will have a lone pair of electrons are known as Lewis base.
 4. The chemical formula of acid begins with H, for example, HCl (Hydrochloric
acid), H3BO3 (Boric acid), CH2O3 (Carbonic acid). Although
CH3COOH (Acetic acid) is an exception whereas such compounds whose
chemical formula ends with OH, for example, KOH (Potassium
hydroxide), NaOH (Sodium hydroxide) is known as the base. pH scale
(concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution) is less than seven whereas it
is greater than 7 in the base.
5. Acids are sour, gives burning sensation, generally sticky, reacts with metals
to produce hydrogen gas. Although bases are opposite as they are bitter,
generally odorless (except ammonia), they are slippery; bases react with fats
and oils.
6. In phenolphthalein, indicator acids remain colorless, and base givespink
color. Though in litmus paper test acids turn blue litmus paper to red
and red litmus paper to blue.
7. The strength of acids depends on the concentration of hydronium ions
while the strength depends on the concentration of hydroxide ions.
8. Acids dissociate to give free hydrogen ions (H+) when mixed in water,
whereas bases dissociate to give free hydroxide ions (OH–)when mixed in
water.
9. Few examples of acids are Hydrochloric acid (HCl), Sulphuric acid
(H2SO4), Nitric acid (HNO3), Carbonic acid (H2CO3). The examples of
bases are Ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH), Calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2),
Sodium hydroxide (NaOH).
Conclusion
It is worthwhile to have a brief understanding of some of the basic physical and
chemical principles that are directly or indirectly connected to life. Acids and
base are some of them. In the above content, we discussed them along with their
properties. We discuss the three important theories with some examples also. We
conclude that these are the important part of life and we often use them, not only
in chemistry laboratory but also in day to day work.
What is Sand?
Sand is made from tiny grains of rocks and minerals. It can also be tiny particles
of the shells of sea creatures. Some sand comes from the calcium (a mineral) in
seaweed.

What is Water?
Water is made up of billions of molecules. Each molecule is made of one oxygen
and two hydrogen atoms held together by strong covalent bonds. ... Water on our
planet flows as liquid in rivers, streams, and oceans; is solid as ice at the North
and South Poles; and is gas (vapor) in the atmosphere.