What is an Acid
What is an Acid
Substances that form ions when they are dissolved in water are called electrolytes. The three types of electrolytes are acids, bases, and salts.
Acids are substances that dissociate in water to produce hydrogen (H+).
An example of a common acid is sulfuric acid, H2SO4.
In solution, H2SO4 dissociates to form hydrogen and sulfate ions according to the following equation.
H2SO4(Aq) ----> 2H+ + SO4--
The designation in parenthesis in the following formulas indicate the state of the reactants and the products, i.e., liquid (aq). solid (s), or gas (g). Additional examples of acids are vinegar, aspirin, and lemon juice.
These substances share the following common properties.
1. Acid solutions taste sour (acid means "sour" in Latin).
2. Acids react with many metals to form hydrogen gas.
3. Acids turn litmus paper red.
4. Acid solutions conduct electricity.
5. Acids react with bases to form a salt and water.
6. Acids react with carbonates to form CO (carbon dioxide gas).
this article is taken from: DOE FUNDAMENTALS HANDBOOK CHEMISTRY Volume 1 of 2 - DOE-HDBK-1015/1-93 JANUARY 1993