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Feb 1, 2026
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Understanding Acids and Bases in Chemistry
Ashley Sewcharran
@ashleysewcharran_07
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Acids and Bases Fundamentals
Ever wonder why lemon juice tastes sour or why soap feels slippery? That's acids and bases in action! Electrolytes are substances whose aqueous solutions conduct electricity, while non-electrolytes don't. The three main categories of electrolytes are acids, bases, and salts.
Acids have several key properties that make them unique. They conduct electricity, have a pH below 7, and react with certain metals to produce hydrogen gas. Most acids begin with H+ or contain COOH (organic acids). They taste sour and react with bases in neutralization reactions to form salt and water.
Bases also conduct electricity but have different properties. They have a pH above 7, taste bitter, and feel slippery to the touch. You can identify a base by looking for a metal or NH₄⁺ ionically bonded to OH⁻. Unlike acids, bases don't react with metals to produce hydrogen gas.
💡 Don't confuse bases with alcohols! A base has a metal or NH₄⁺ ionically bonded to OH⁻, while alcohols (like CH₃OH) have OH covalently bonded to carbon and aren't electrolytes.
Acid-Base Theories and Neutralization
The Arrhenius theory gives us a clear way to identify acids and bases. An Arrhenius acid produces H⁺ or H₃O⁺ as the only positive ion when dissolved in water. For example, HCl breaks down into H⁺ and Cl⁻ ions. Most common acids start with "H" .
An Arrhenius base produces OH⁻ as the only negative ion when dissolved in water. Remember that bases have a metal or polyatomic ion bonded to OH⁻. This is different from alcohols (like CH₃OH), which have OH covalently bonded to carbon.
When acids and bases mix, they undergo a neutralization reaction (a type of double replacement reaction): Acid + Base → Salt + Water. During this process, H⁺ from the acid combines with OH⁻ from the base to form water. The remaining ions form a salt.
Titration is a laboratory process used to determine the concentration of a solution. By adding an acid to a basic solution (or vice versa) until neutralization occurs, we can calculate unknown concentrations using the formula MₐVₐ = MₙVₙ, where M represents molarity and V represents volume.
🧪 When performing titrations, remember that acids with multiple hydrogens (like H₂SO₄) are called polyprotic acids and require different calculations than monoprotic acids (like HCl).
pH and Brønsted-Lowry Theory
The Brønsted-Lowry theory offers another way to understand acids and bases. It defines an acid as a proton donor and a base as a proton acceptor. This helps explain reactions that the Arrhenius theory can't fully describe.
To identify acids and bases in this theory, look for conjugate pairs - substances that differ by one proton (H⁺). The acid always has one more hydrogen than its conjugate base. For example, HF (acid) and F⁻ (conjugate base) form a pair, with the acid having one more hydrogen.
The pH scale measures how acidic or basic a solution is, ranging from 0-14. A pH of 7 is neutral, below 7 is acidic, and above 7 is basic. This scale is logarithmic, meaning each whole number represents a tenfold change in acidity or alkalinity. A solution with pH 4 is ten times more acidic than pH 5!
The relationship between H⁺ and OH⁻ concentrations follows the equation [H⁺][OH⁻] = 1.0 × 10⁻¹⁴ at 25°C. This means that as H⁺ concentration increases, pH decreases (more acidic), and as OH⁻ increases, pH increases (more basic).
📊 A useful shortcut: if you know the OH⁻ concentration (which gives you pOH), you can find pH by subtracting pOH from 14. For example, if [OH⁻] = 10⁻³, then pOH = 3 and pH = 14 - 3 = 11.
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Paul T
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The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
I think it’s very much worth it and you’ll end up using it a lot once you get the hang of it and even after looking at others notes you can still ask your Artificial intelligence buddy the question and ask to simplify it if you still don’t get it!!! In the end I think it’s worth it 😊👍 ⚠️Also DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLY❗️❗️⚠️
Thomas R
iOS user
Knowunity is the BEST app I’ve used in a minute. This is not an ai review or anything this is genuinely coming from a 7th grade student (I know 2011 im young) but dude this app is a 10/10 i have maintained a 3.8 gpa and have plenty of time for gaming. I love it and my mom is just happy I got good grades
Brad T
Android user
Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help🤍🤍
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
I found this app a couple years ago and it has only gotten better since then. I really love it because it can help with written questions and photo questions. Also, it can find study guides that other people have made as well as flashcard sets and practice tests. The free version is also amazing for students who might not be able to afford it. Would 100% recommend
Aubrey
iOS user
Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.😋🩷🎀
Marco B
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE Knowunity AI. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as I’ve seen! Geometry too!
Paul T
iOS user
Understanding Acids and Bases in Chemistry
Ashley Sewcharran
@ashleysewcharran_07
Acids and bases are fundamental chemical compounds with distinctive properties that affect our daily lives, from the foods we eat to the cleaning products we use. Understanding their behavior, properties, and interactions is essential for mastering chemistry concepts that appear... Show more
Acids and Bases Fundamentals
Ever wonder why lemon juice tastes sour or why soap feels slippery? That's acids and bases in action! Electrolytes are substances whose aqueous solutions conduct electricity, while non-electrolytes don't. The three main categories of electrolytes are acids, bases, and salts.
Acids have several key properties that make them unique. They conduct electricity, have a pH below 7, and react with certain metals to produce hydrogen gas. Most acids begin with H+ or contain COOH (organic acids). They taste sour and react with bases in neutralization reactions to form salt and water.
Bases also conduct electricity but have different properties. They have a pH above 7, taste bitter, and feel slippery to the touch. You can identify a base by looking for a metal or NH₄⁺ ionically bonded to OH⁻. Unlike acids, bases don't react with metals to produce hydrogen gas.
💡 Don't confuse bases with alcohols! A base has a metal or NH₄⁺ ionically bonded to OH⁻, while alcohols (like CH₃OH) have OH covalently bonded to carbon and aren't electrolytes.
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Acid-Base Theories and Neutralization
The Arrhenius theory gives us a clear way to identify acids and bases. An Arrhenius acid produces H⁺ or H₃O⁺ as the only positive ion when dissolved in water. For example, HCl breaks down into H⁺ and Cl⁻ ions. Most common acids start with "H" .
An Arrhenius base produces OH⁻ as the only negative ion when dissolved in water. Remember that bases have a metal or polyatomic ion bonded to OH⁻. This is different from alcohols (like CH₃OH), which have OH covalently bonded to carbon.
When acids and bases mix, they undergo a neutralization reaction (a type of double replacement reaction): Acid + Base → Salt + Water. During this process, H⁺ from the acid combines with OH⁻ from the base to form water. The remaining ions form a salt.
Titration is a laboratory process used to determine the concentration of a solution. By adding an acid to a basic solution (or vice versa) until neutralization occurs, we can calculate unknown concentrations using the formula MₐVₐ = MₙVₙ, where M represents molarity and V represents volume.
🧪 When performing titrations, remember that acids with multiple hydrogens (like H₂SO₄) are called polyprotic acids and require different calculations than monoprotic acids (like HCl).
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pH and Brønsted-Lowry Theory
The Brønsted-Lowry theory offers another way to understand acids and bases. It defines an acid as a proton donor and a base as a proton acceptor. This helps explain reactions that the Arrhenius theory can't fully describe.
To identify acids and bases in this theory, look for conjugate pairs - substances that differ by one proton (H⁺). The acid always has one more hydrogen than its conjugate base. For example, HF (acid) and F⁻ (conjugate base) form a pair, with the acid having one more hydrogen.
The pH scale measures how acidic or basic a solution is, ranging from 0-14. A pH of 7 is neutral, below 7 is acidic, and above 7 is basic. This scale is logarithmic, meaning each whole number represents a tenfold change in acidity or alkalinity. A solution with pH 4 is ten times more acidic than pH 5!
The relationship between H⁺ and OH⁻ concentrations follows the equation [H⁺][OH⁻] = 1.0 × 10⁻¹⁴ at 25°C. This means that as H⁺ concentration increases, pH decreases (more acidic), and as OH⁻ increases, pH increases (more basic).
📊 A useful shortcut: if you know the OH⁻ concentration (which gives you pOH), you can find pH by subtracting pOH from 14. For example, if [OH⁻] = 10⁻³, then pOH = 3 and pH = 14 - 3 = 11.
We thought you’d never ask...
What is the Knowunity AI companion?
Our AI companion is specifically built for the needs of students. Based on the millions of content pieces we have on the platform we can provide truly meaningful and relevant answers to students. But its not only about answers, the companion is even more about guiding students through their daily learning challenges, with personalised study plans, quizzes or content pieces in the chat and 100% personalisation based on the students skills and developments.
Where can I download the Knowunity app?
You can download the app in the Google Play Store and in the Apple App Store.
Is Knowunity really free of charge?
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
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The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
I think it’s very much worth it and you’ll end up using it a lot once you get the hang of it and even after looking at others notes you can still ask your Artificial intelligence buddy the question and ask to simplify it if you still don’t get it!!! In the end I think it’s worth it 😊👍 ⚠️Also DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLY❗️❗️⚠️
Thomas R
iOS user
Knowunity is the BEST app I’ve used in a minute. This is not an ai review or anything this is genuinely coming from a 7th grade student (I know 2011 im young) but dude this app is a 10/10 i have maintained a 3.8 gpa and have plenty of time for gaming. I love it and my mom is just happy I got good grades
Brad T
Android user
Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help🤍🤍
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
I found this app a couple years ago and it has only gotten better since then. I really love it because it can help with written questions and photo questions. Also, it can find study guides that other people have made as well as flashcard sets and practice tests. The free version is also amazing for students who might not be able to afford it. Would 100% recommend
Aubrey
iOS user
Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.😋🩷🎀
Marco B
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE Knowunity AI. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as I’ve seen! Geometry too!
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
I think it’s very much worth it and you’ll end up using it a lot once you get the hang of it and even after looking at others notes you can still ask your Artificial intelligence buddy the question and ask to simplify it if you still don’t get it!!! In the end I think it’s worth it 😊👍 ⚠️Also DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLY❗️❗️⚠️
Thomas R
iOS user
Knowunity is the BEST app I’ve used in a minute. This is not an ai review or anything this is genuinely coming from a 7th grade student (I know 2011 im young) but dude this app is a 10/10 i have maintained a 3.8 gpa and have plenty of time for gaming. I love it and my mom is just happy I got good grades
Brad T
Android user
Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help🤍🤍
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
I found this app a couple years ago and it has only gotten better since then. I really love it because it can help with written questions and photo questions. Also, it can find study guides that other people have made as well as flashcard sets and practice tests. The free version is also amazing for students who might not be able to afford it. Would 100% recommend
Aubrey
iOS user
Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.😋🩷🎀
Marco B
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE Knowunity AI. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as I’ve seen! Geometry too!
Paul T
iOS user