Acids & Bases
What You’ll Learn
Acids are substances that produce hydrogen ions (H+) when dissolved in water, while bases are substances that produce hydroxide ions (OH-) in water. When an acid and a base are mixed, they undergo a neutralization reaction to form water and a salt. The pH scale measures the acidity or basicity of a solution, with pH 7 being neutral, values below 7 being acidic, and values above 7 being basic. Water itself is an amphoteric substance, meaning it can act as both an acid and a base, and has a neutral pH of 7