Acids, Bases, and Salts

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Acid Noun

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[as-id]

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Acid

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A substance that produces hydrogen ions in solution, donates a proton, or accepts an electron pair to form a bond.

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Example: This diagram shows an acid (HCl in the first flask) reacting with a base to produce salt and water, a common chemical property of acids.

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Base Noun

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[bayss]

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Base

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A substance that produces hydroxide ions in solution, accepts a proton, or donates an electron pair to form a bond.

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Example: When a base like sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is added to water, it splits apart (dissociates) into positive sodium ions (Na+) and negative hydroxide ions (OH-).

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Salt Noun

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[sawlt]

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Salt

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An ionic compound formed from the neutralization reaction of an acid and a base, consisting of a cation and an anion.

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Example: A salt, like sodium chloride (NaCl), is an ionic compound. It forms a crystal lattice structure with alternating positive (Na+) and negative (Cl-) ions.

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Alkaline Adjective

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[al-kuh-line]

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Alkaline

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Having the properties of a base, or containing a base; characterized by a pH greater than 7 in an aqueous solution.

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Example: This pH scale shows that substances are alkaline (or basic) when they have a pH value greater than 7, with colors ranging from blue to purple.

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Electrolyte Noun

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[ih-lek-truh-lite]

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Electrolyte

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A substance that produces an electrically conducting solution when dissolved in a polar solvent, such as water, by forming ions.

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Example: When a salt crystal dissolves in water, it breaks apart into positive ions (cations) and negative ions (anions) that can move freely.

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Precipitate Verb

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[pri-sip-i-tayt]

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Precipitate

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To cause a substance to be deposited in solid form from a solution as a result of a chemical reaction.

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Example: A chemical reaction turns a clear solution into a mixture containing a solid, called a precipitate, that settles at the bottom.

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Arrhenius acid Noun

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[ar-ree-nee-uhs as-id]

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Arrhenius acid

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A substance that increases the concentration of hydrogen ions (H⁺) when dissolved in water, forming hydronium ions (H₃O⁺).

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Example: An Arrhenius acid, like hydrochloric acid (HCl), increases the amount of hydrogen ions (H⁺) when dissolved in water, forming hydronium ions (H₃O⁺).

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Arrhenius base Noun

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[ar-ree-nee-uhs bayss]

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Arrhenius base

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A substance that increases the concentration of hydroxide ions (OH⁻) when dissolved in an aqueous solution.

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Example: When an Arrhenius base like sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is added to water, it dissociates, increasing the number of hydroxide (OH⁻) ions.

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Hydronium ion Noun

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[hy-droh-nee-uhm eye-on]

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Hydronium ion

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The cation (H₃O⁺) that forms when a water molecule bonds with a hydrogen ion from an acid in aqueous solution.

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Example: This image shows how a water molecule combines with a proton (a hydrogen ion) to form a positively charged hydronium ion.

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Monoprotic acid Noun

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[mon-oh-proh-tik as-id]

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Monoprotic acid

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An acid that can donate only one proton or hydrogen atom per molecule to an aqueous solution during dissociation.

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Example: This image shows a molecule of Hydrochloric Acid (HCl), which is a monoprotic acid because it has only one ('mono') hydrogen atom to donate.