Acid vs. Base — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 27, 2023
An "acid" donates protons and tastes sour, while a "base" accepts protons and tastes bitter. Both play fundamental roles in chemistry.
Difference Between Acid and Base
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
An acid is a substance that can donate a proton (hydrogen ion, H+) to another substance in a chemical reaction. Acids have the ability to turn blue litmus paper red. In our everyday experiences, acids can be found in items like citrus fruits, vinegar, and soft drinks, which explains their sour taste. A base, in contrast, is a substance that can accept a proton. Bases turn red litmus paper blue. Commonly, bases can be found in substances like baking soda or soap and are often associated with a slippery feel and a bitter taste.
When an acid and a base react together, they undergo a process known as neutralization. In this process, the acid's protons are taken up by the base, resulting in the production of water and a salt. For instance, when hydrochloric acid reacts with sodium hydroxide, a base, they produce water and sodium chloride (common table salt).
From a pH perspective, an acid has a pH value less than 7, with stronger acids having lower pH values. Examples include stomach acid and lemon juice. A base, on the other hand, has a pH value greater than 7, with stronger bases registering higher pH values. An example of this is household ammonia.
In biological systems, both acid and base play vital roles. Acids help in digestion and in the transportation of energy in cells, while bases are key in maintaining the body's pH balance. Both are crucial in various metabolic processes, emphasizing their importance in life.
Lastly, it's important to handle both acids and bases with care, especially concentrated forms. They can be corrosive and cause burns or other injuries. It's essential to know the properties of these substances, as some are more harmful than others.
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Comparison Chart
Proton Activity
Donates protons
Accepts protons
Taste
Sour
Bitter
Effect on Litmus Paper
Turns blue litmus red
Turns red litmus blue
PH Value
Less than 7
Greater than 7
Examples
Lemon juice, vinegar
Baking soda, ammonia
Compare with Definitions
Acid
A substance with particular chemical properties including turning litmus red, neutralizing alkalis, and dissolving some metals; typically, a corrosive or sour-tasting liquid of this kind.
Traces of acid
Trees were exposed to mixtures of heavy metals, acids, and overdoses of nutrients
Base
The lowest part or edge of something, especially the part on which it rests or is supported
She sat down at the base of a tree
Acid
A molecule or other species which can donate a proton or accept an electron pair in reactions.
Base
A conceptual structure or entity on which something draws or depends
The town's economic base collapsed
Acid
Sharp-tasting or sour
Acid fruit
Base
A place used as a centre of operations by the armed forces or others; a headquarters
He headed back to base
Acid
A substance that donates protons.
Lemon juice is an acid due to its sour taste.
Base
A main or important element or ingredient to which other things are added
Soaps with a vegetable oil base
Acid
A corrosive substance that can release hydrogen ions.
Battery acid is potent and can cause burns if mishandled.
Base
A substance capable of reacting with an acid to form a salt and water, or (more broadly) of accepting or neutralizing hydrogen ions.
Acid
An acid is a molecule or ion capable of either donating a proton (i.e., hydrogen ion, H+), known as a Brønsted–Lowry acid, or, capable of forming a covalent bond with an electron pair, known as a Lewis acid.The first category of acids are the proton donors, or Brønsted–Lowry acids. In the special case of aqueous solutions, proton donors form the hydronium ion H3O+ and are known as Arrhenius acids.
Base
A compound that turns red litmus paper blue.
He used litmus to show that ammonia is a base.
Acid
The drug LSD
A bad acid trip
She didn't have a clue the sweet had acid in it
Base
A substance that can neutralize acids.
Antacids are bases that help neutralize stomach acid.
Acid
Containing acid or having the properties of an acid; having a pH of less than 7.
Acid soils
Base
A key player in maintaining pH balance.
Our blood has bases that help keep its pH around 7.4.
Acid
(of rock, especially lava) containing a relatively high proportion of silica
The magma may start off fairly basic and end up at the close of the eruption much more acid
Base
The middle part of a bipolar transistor, separating the emitter from the collector.
Acid
Any of a class of substances whose aqueous solutions are characterized by a sour taste, the ability to turn blue litmus red, and the ability to react with bases and certain metals to form salts.
Base
The root or stem of a word or a derivative.
Acid
A substance that yields hydrogen ions when dissolved in water.
Base
A number used as the basis of a numeration scale.
Acid
A substance that can act as a proton donor.
Base
Each of the four stations that must be reached in turn to score a run.
Acid
A substance that can accept a pair of electrons to form a covalent bond.
Base
Use (something specified) as the foundation or starting point for something
Entitlement will be based on income
The film is based on a novel by Pat Conroy
Acid
A substance having a sour taste.
Base
Situate at a specified place as the centre of operations
A London-based band
The Science Policy Review Unit is based at the University of Sussex
Acid
The quality of being sarcastic, bitter, or scornful
Wrote with acid about her first marriage.
Base
Without moral principles; ignoble
The electorate's baser instincts of greed and selfishness
Acid
(Slang) See LSD1.
Base
Denoting or befitting a person of low social class.
Acid
Of, relating to, or containing an acid.
Base
(of coins or other articles) not made of precious metal
The basest coins in the purse were made in the 620s AD
Acid
Having a high concentration of acid.
Base
The lowest or bottom part
The base of a cliff.
The base of a lamp.
Acid
Having the characteristics of an acid.
Base
The part of a plant or animal organ that is nearest to its point of attachment.
Acid
Having a pH of less than 7.
Base
The point of attachment of such an organ.
Acid
Having a relatively high concentration of hydrogen ions.
Base
A supporting part or layer; a foundation
A skyscraper built on a base of solid rock.
Acid
(Geology) Containing a large proportion of silica
Acid rocks.
Base
A basic or underlying element; infrastructure
The nation's industrial base.
Acid
Having a sour taste.
Base
The fundamental principle or underlying concept of a system or theory; a basis.
Acid
Biting, sarcastic, or scornful
An acid wit.
An acid tone of voice.
Base
A fundamental ingredient; a chief constituent
A paint with an oil base.
Acid
Sour, sharp, or biting to the taste; tart; having the taste of vinegar.
Acid fruits or liquors
Base
The fact, observation, or premise from which a reasoning process is begun.
Acid
(figuratively) Sour-tempered.
Base
(Games) A starting point, safety area, or goal.
Acid
Of or pertaining to an acid; acidic.
Base
(Baseball) Any one of the four corners of an infield, marked by a bag or plate, that must be touched by a runner before a run can be scored.
Acid
(music) Denoting a musical genre that is a distortion (as if hallucinogenic) of an existing genre, as in acid house, acid jazz, acid rock.
Base
A center of organization, supply, or activity; a headquarters.
Acid
A sour substance.
Base
The portion of a social organization, especially a political party, consisting of the most dedicated or motivated members.
Acid
(chemistry)
Base
A fortified center of operations.
Acid
Any compound which yields H+ ions (protons) when dissolved in water; an Arrhenius acid.
Base
A supply center for a large force of military personnel.
Acid
Any compound that easily donates protons to a base; a Brønsted acid.
Base
A facial cosmetic used to even out the complexion or provide a surface for other makeup; a foundation.
Acid
Any compound that can accept a pair of electrons to form a covalent bond; a Lewis acid.
Base
(Architecture) The lowest part of a structure, such as a wall, considered as a separate unit
The base of a column.
Acid
Any corrosive substance.
Base
(Heraldry) The lower part of a shield.
Acid
LSD, lysergic acid diethylamide.
Base
(Linguistics) A morpheme or morphemes regarded as a form to which affixes or other bases may be added.
Acid
Sour, sharp, or biting to the taste; tart; having the taste of vinegar: as, acid fruits or liquors. Also fig.: Sour-tempered.
He was stern and his face as acid as ever.
Base
The side or face of a geometric figure to which an altitude is or is thought to be drawn.
Acid
Of or pertaining to an acid; as, acid reaction.
Base
The number that is raised to various powers to generate the principal counting units of a number system. The base of the decimal system, for example, is 10.
Acid
A sour substance.
Base
The number raised to the logarithm of a designated number in order to produce that designated number; the number at which a chosen logarithmic scale has the value 1.
Acid
One of a class of compounds, generally but not always distinguished by their sour taste, solubility in water, and reddening of vegetable blue or violet colors. They are also characterized by the power of destroying the distinctive properties of alkalies or bases, combining with them to form salts, at the same time losing their own peculiar properties. They all contain hydrogen, united with a more negative element or radical, either alone, or more generally with oxygen, and take their names from this negative element or radical. Those which contain no oxygen are sometimes called hydracids in distinction from the others which are called oxygen acids or oxacids.
Base
A line used as a reference for measurement or computations.
Acid
Any of various water-soluble compounds having a sour taste and capable of turning litmus red and reacting with a base to form a salt
Base
Any of a class of compounds whose aqueous solutions are characterized by a bitter taste, a slippery feel, the ability to turn litmus blue, and the ability to react with acids to form salts.
Acid
Street name for lysergic acid diethylamide
Base
A substance that yields hydroxide ions when dissolved in water.
Acid
Harsh or corrosive in tone;
An acerbic tone piercing otherwise flowery prose
A barrage of acid comments
Her acrid remarks make her many enemies
Bitter words
Blistering criticism
Caustic jokes about political assassination, talk-show hosts and medical ethics
A sulfurous denunciation
Base
A substance that can act as a proton acceptor.
Acid
Containing acid;
An acid taste
Base
A substance that can donate a pair of electrons to form a covalent bond.
Acid
A compound that turns blue litmus paper red.
She demonstrated the acidic nature of the solution using litmus paper.
Base
The region in a transistor between the emitter and the collector.
Acid
A molecule with a pH less than 7.
Tomato juice has an acidic nature because its pH is below 7.
Base
The electrode attached to this region.
Acid
A key component in many chemical reactions.
Acid-base reactions are fundamental in chemistry labs.
Base
One of the nitrogen-containing purines (adenine and guanine) or pyrimidines (cytosine, thymine, and uracil) that occurs attached to the sugar component of DNA or RNA.
Base
A bass singer or voice.
Base
Forming or serving as a base
A base layer of soil.
Base
Situated at or near the base or bottom
A base camp for the mountain climbers.
Base
(Chemistry) Of, relating to, or containing a base.
Base
Having or showing a lack of decency; contemptible, mean-spirited, or selfish.
Base
Being a metal that is of little value.
Base
Containing such metals
Base coins.
Base
(Archaic) Of low birth, rank, or position.
Base
(Obsolete) Short in stature.
Base
To form or provide a base for
Based the new company in Portland.
Base
To find a basis for; establish
Based her conclusions on the report.
A film based on a best-selling novel.
Base
To assign to a base; station
Troops based in the Middle East.
Base
Something from which other things extend; a foundation.
Base
A supporting, lower or bottom component of a structure or object.
Base
The starting point of a logical deduction or thought; basis.
Base
A permanent structure for housing military personnel and material.
Base
The place where decisions for an organization are made; headquarters.
Base
A basic but essential component or ingredient.
Base
A substance used as a mordant in dyeing.
Base
(cosmetics) Foundation: a cosmetic cream to make the face appear uniform.
Base
(chemistry) Any of a class of generally water-soluble compounds, having bitter taste, that turn red litmus blue, and react with acids to form salts.
Base
Important areas in games and sports.
Base
A safe zone in the children's games of tag and hide-and-go-seek.
Base
(baseball) One of the four places that a runner can stand without being subject to being tagged out when the ball is in play.
Base
(architecture) The lowermost part of a column, between the shaft and the pedestal or pavement.
Base
A nucleotide's nucleobase in the context of a DNA or RNA biopolymer.
Base
(botany) The end of a leaf, petal or similar organ where it is attached to its support.
Base
(electronics) The name of the controlling terminal of a bipolar transistor (BJT).
Base
(geometry) The lowest side of a triangle or other polygon, or the lowest face of a cone, pyramid or other polyhedron laid flat.
Base
(heraldry) The lowest third of a shield or escutcheon.
Base
(heraldry) The lower part of the field. See escutcheon.
Base
(mathematics) A number raised to the power of an exponent.
The logarithm to base 2 of 8 is 3.
Base
(mathematics) radix.
Base
(topology) The set of sets from which a topology is generated.
Base
(topology) A topological space, looked at in relation to one of its covering spaces, fibrations, or bundles.
Base
(group theory) A sequence of elements not jointly stabilized by any nontrivial group element.
Base
In hand-to-hand balance, the person who supports the flyer; the person that remains in contact with the ground.
Base
(linguistics) A morpheme (or morphemes) that serves as a basic foundation on which affixes can be attached.
Base
(music) bass
Base
The smallest kind of cannon.
Base
(archaic) The housing of a horse.
Base
A kind of skirt (often of velvet or brocade, but sometimes of mail or other armour) which hung from the middle to about the knees, or lower.
Base
(obsolete) The lower part of a robe or petticoat.
Base
(obsolete) An apron.
Base
A line in a survey which, being accurately determined in length and position, serves as the origin from which to compute the distances and positions of any points or objects connected with it by a system of triangles.
Base
(politics) A group of voters who almost always support a single party's candidates for elected office.
Base
(Marxism) The forces and relations of production that produce the necessities and amenities of life.
Base
A material that holds paint or other materials together; a binder.
Base
(aviation) base leg
Base
(slang) freebase cocaine
Base
The game of prisoners' bars.
Base
Alternative form of BASE
Base
(transitive) To give as its foundation or starting point; to lay the foundation of.
Base
(transitive) To be located (at a particular place).
Base
To act as a base; to be the person supporting the flyer.
Base
(slang) To freebase.
Base
(obsolete) Low in height; short.
Base
Low in place or position.
Base
(obsolete) Of low value or degree.
Base
(archaic) Of low social standing or rank; vulgar, common.
Base
Morally reprehensible, immoral; cowardly.
Base
Inferior; unworthy, of poor quality.
Base
(of a metal) Not considered precious or noble.
Base
Alloyed with inferior metal; debased.
Base coin
Base bullion
Base
(obsolete) Of illegitimate birth; bastard.
Base
Not classical or correct.
Base
Obsolete form of bass
The base tone of a violin
Base
(legal) Not held by honourable service.
A base estate is one held by services not honourable, or held by villenage. Such a tenure is called base, or low, and the tenant is a base tenant.
Base
Of little, or less than the usual, height; of low growth; as, base shrubs.
Base
Low in place or position.
Base
Of humble birth; or low degree; lowly; mean.
Base
Illegitimate by birth; bastard.
Why bastard? wherefore base?
Base
Of little comparative value, as metal inferior to gold and silver, the precious metals.
Base
Alloyed with inferior metal; debased; as, base coin; base bullion.
Base
Morally low. Hence: Low-minded; unworthy; without dignity of sentiment; ignoble; mean; illiberal; menial; as, a base fellow; base motives; base occupations.
Base
Not classical or correct.
Base
Deep or grave in sound; as, the base tone of a violin.
Base
Not held by honorable service; as, a base estate, one held by services not honorable; held by villenage. Such a tenure is called base, or low, and the tenant, a base tenant.
Base
The bottom of anything, considered as its support, or that on which something rests for support; the foundation; as, the base of a statue.
Base
Fig.: The fundamental or essential part of a thing; the essential principle; a groundwork.
Base
The lower part of a wall, pier, or column, when treated as a separate feature, usually in projection, or especially ornamented.
Base
That extremity of a leaf, fruit, etc., at which it is attached to its support.
Base
The positive, or non-acid component of a salt; a substance which, combined with an acid, neutralizes the latter and forms a salt; - applied also to the hydroxides of the positive elements or radicals, and to certain organic bodies resembling them in their property of forming salts with acids.
Base
The chief ingredient in a compound.
Base
A substance used as a mordant.
Base
The exterior side of the polygon, or that imaginary line which connects the salient angles of two adjacent bastions.
Base
The line or surface constituting that part of a figure on which it is supposed to stand.
Base
The number from which a mathematical table is constructed; as, the base of a system of logarithms.
Base
A low, or deep, sound. (Mus.) (a) The lowest part; the deepest male voice. (b) One who sings, or the instrument which plays, base.
The trebles squeak for fear, the bases roar.
Base
A place or tract of country, protected by fortifications, or by natural advantages, from which the operations of an army proceed, forward movements are made, supplies are furnished, etc.
Base
The smallest kind of cannon.
Base
That part of an organ by which it is attached to another more central organ.
Base
The basal plane of a crystal.
Base
The ground mass of a rock, especially if not distinctly crystalline.
Base
The lower part of the field. See Escutcheon.
Base
The housing of a horse.
Base
A kind of skirt (often of velvet or brocade, but sometimes of mailed armor) which hung from the middle to about the knees, or lower.
Base
The lower part of a robe or petticoat.
Base
An apron.
Base
The point or line from which a start is made; a starting place or a goal in various games.
To their appointed base they went.
Base
A line in a survey which, being accurately determined in length and position, serves as the origin from which to compute the distances and positions of any points or objects connected with it by a system of triangles.
Base
A rustic play; - called also prisoner's base, prison base, or bars.
Base
Any one of the four bounds which mark the circuit of the infield.
Base
To put on a base or basis; to lay the foundation of; to found, as an argument or conclusion; - used with on or upon.
Base
To abase; to let, or cast, down; to lower.
If any . . . based his pike.
Base
To reduce the value of; to debase.
Metals which we can not base.
Base
Any of various water-soluble compounds capable of turning litmus blue and reacting with an acid to form a salt and water;
Bases include oxides and hydroxides of metals and ammonia
Base
Installation from which a military force initiates operations;
The attack wiped out our forward bases
Base
Lowest support of a structure;
It was built on a base of solid rock
He stood at the foot of the tower
Base
Place that runner must touch before scoring;
He scrambled to get back to the bag
Base
(numeration system) the positive integer that is equivalent to one in the next higher counting place;
10 is the radix of the decimal system
Base
The bottom or lowest part;
The base of the mountain
Base
(anatomy) the part of an organ nearest its point of attachment;
The base of the skull
Base
A lower limit;
The government established a wage floor
Base
The fundamental assumptions from which something is begun or developed or calculated or explained;
The whole argument rested on a basis of conjecture
Base
A support or foundation;
The base of the lamp
Base
The bottom side of a geometric figure from which the altitude can be constructed;
The base of the triangle
Base
The most important or necessary part of something;
The basis of this drink is orange juice
Base
The place where you are stationed and from which missions start and end
Base
An intensely anti-western terrorist network that dispenses money and logistical support and training to a wide variety of radical Islamic terrorist group; has cells in more than 50 countries
Base
(linguistics) the form of a word after all affixes are removed;
Thematic vowels are part of the stem
Base
The stock of basic facilities and capital equipment needed for the functioning of a country or area;
The industrial base of Japan
Base
The principal ingredient of a mixture;
Glycerinated gelatin is used as a base for many ointments
He told the painter that he wanted a yellow base with just a hint of green
Everything she cooked seemed to have rice as the base
Base
A flat bottom on which something is intended to sit;
A tub should sit on its own base
Base
(electronics) the part of a transistor that separates the emitter from the collector
Base
Use as a basis for; found on;
Base a claim on some observation
Base
Use (purified cocaine) by burning it and inhaling the fumes
Base
Assign to a station
Base
Serving as or forming a base;
The painter applied a base coat followed by two finishing coats
Base
(used of metals) consisting of or alloyed with inferior metal;
Base coins of aluminum
A base metal
Base
Of low birth or station (`base' is archaic in this sense);
Baseborn wretches with dirty faces
Of humble (or lowly) birth
Base
Not adhering to ethical or moral principles;
Base and unpatriotic motives
A base, degrading way of life
Cheating is dishonorable
They considered colonialism immoral
Unethical practices in handling public funds
Base
Having or showing an ignoble lack of honor or morality;
That liberal obedience without which your army would be a base rabble
Taking a mean advantage
Chok'd with ambition of the meaner sort
Something essentially vulgar and meanspirited in politics
Base
Illegitimate
Base
Debased; not genuine;
An attempt to eliminate the base coinage
Base
A substance that accepts protons.
Soap solution acts as a base due to its slippery nature.
Base
A molecule with a pH greater than 7.
Household cleaning agents often have a basic pH.
Common Curiosities
What is an acid?
An acid is a substance that donates protons (H+ ions) in a reaction.
How is a base defined?
A base is a substance that accepts protons (H+ ions) in a reaction.
Why is pH important in terms of acids and bases?
pH measures the acidity or basicity of a solution, indicating its acid or base strength.
Can acids and bases be dangerous?
Yes, concentrated acids and bases can be corrosive and cause harm.
Can acids and bases be found in our daily lives?
Yes, substances like lemon juice (acid) and baking soda (base) are common examples.
Is distilled water an acid or base?
Pure distilled water is neutral with a pH of 7.
How are acids and bases used in industries?
They're used in manufacturing, cleaning, and various chemical processes.
Are all bases slippery to touch?
Many bases, like soap solutions, feel slippery, but it's not a rule for all bases.
Are all acids sour and bases bitter?
While many acids taste sour and bases taste bitter, it's not a definitive test for their presence.
Do acids and bases conduct electricity?
Yes, when dissolved in water, they produce ions which make the solution conductive.
What happens when an acid and base react?
They undergo neutralization, producing water and a salt.
How can we safely handle acids and bases?
Using gloves, goggles, and working in well-ventilated areas can ensure safe handling.
What's the role of acids in our stomach?
Stomach acid aids in digestion and breaking down food.
Is the reaction between an acid and base exothermic?
Typically, yes. The reaction often releases heat.
Why are acids and bases important in biology?
They play vital roles in metabolism, digestion, and maintaining the body's pH balance.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.