Acids are substances which produce hydrogen ions (H+) when it is dissolved in water.

Acids are corrosive, have a sour taste, have a pH less than 7, and turn blue litmus paper red. Acids react with metals to form hydrogen gas and a salt (ACID + METAL---> SALT + HYDROGEN GAS). Acids react with bases (metal oxides) to form salt and water (ACID + BASE --> SALT + WATER). Acids also react with carbonates to form a salt, carbon dioxide and water.(Acid + Carbonate--> salt + water + carbon dioxide gas). Bases are any metal oxides or hydroxides. They are substances that react with an acid to give a salt and water only. While most bases are insoluble in water, there is a special class of bases that are soluble in water- alkalis. Alkalis have a bitter taste and a soapy feel; they turn red litmus paper blue and produce hydroxide ions (OH-) when dissolved in water, they have a pH higher than 7. Alkalis react with acids to form a salt and water only, in neutralisation reactions where the hydrogen ions from the acid and the hydroxide ions from the alkali react to form water. The ionic equation for neutralisation reactions is H+ (aq) + OH- (aq) --> H2O (l). Alkalis heated with ammonium salts give off ammonia gas. The general equation is Alkali + Ammonium salt --> Ammonia + Water + Salt. Alkalis can react with a solution of a metal salt to give metal hydroxide and another metal salt. The general equation is alkali + salt --> metal hydroxide + salt of other metal. The type of bonding of both acids and alkalis is ionic bonding. There is a need for acids and alkalis to be aqueous; this is because dissociation for these two substances only occurs in water. Only in water will acids dissolve and produce hydrogen ions responsible for acidic properties and only in water will alkalis dissolve, producing hydroxide ions. The hydrogen and hydroxide ions are important in the reactions, such as the neutralization reaction. Acids have many uses. For example, hydrochloric acid can be used in leather processing, in cleaning metals, and in killing some bacteria and converting inactive pepsinogen into active pepsin for digestion in our stomachs. Sulphuric acid can be used in making detergents, fertilizers and in car batteries. Ethanoic acid can be used to preserve food and make adhesives like glue. Acids also have some harms. For example, excess hydrochloric acid in our stomachs can cause stomach ulcers. Acid rain can corrode buildings and statues and can damage soils and plants. Alkalis have many uses. Ammonia solution can be used in window cleaning solutions and in fertilisers. Calcium oxides can be used in neutralizing acidic soil and in making iron, concrete and cement. Magnesium hydroxide can be used in toothpastes to neutralize acid on teeth and in antacids to relieve indigestion. Sodium hydroxide can be used in making soaps and detergents and in industrial cleaning detergents. Alkalis also have some harms. Alkaline soil can cause problems. To measure the pH of the solution, a universal indicator can be added to any solution. A red color shows that the solution is acidic while a purple color shows that the solution is alkaline and a green color shows a neutral solution. For a more accurate result, a pH probe attached to a data logger can also be used. For pH less than 7, the solution is acidic. For pH of 7, the solution is neutral. For pH more than 7, the solution is alkaline.