Ask Difference

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.
Acid vs. Base — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Acid and Base

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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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Author Spotlight

Written by
Tayyaba Rehman
Tayyaba 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.

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