Acids, Bases and Salts: quick revision, 15 bites

The Three Pillars: Acids, Bases, Salts

Everything in chemistry boils down to these three.

Acids, bases and salts are defined by how they behave in water — and they are all connected through **neutralisation**.

Takeaway. Acid + Base → Salt + Water is the master reaction linking all three.

What Exactly Is an Acid?

Sour, sharp, and H⁺-hungry.

Takeaway. The H⁺ ion is the fingerprint of every acid.

What Exactly Is a Base?

Bitter, slippery, and OH⁻-rich.

Takeaway. The OH⁻ ion is the fingerprint of every base.

Neutralisation: The Master Reaction

Acid meets base — both disappear.

The H⁺ from the acid and the OH⁻ from the base combine to form water, while the remaining ions form the salt.

Takeaway. Neutralisation cancels both acid and base properties, producing salt and water.

Indicators: Nature's Colour Signals

Colours that tell you acid from base.

Takeaway. Litmus is the simplest test — blue→red means acid, red→blue means base.

The pH Scale: 0 to 14

One number tells you acid or base.

Takeaway. pH 7 is neutral; below is acid, above is base.

Acid vs Base: Side by Side

Two opposites, one table.

Takeaway. Every property of an acid is mirrored by an opposite property in a base.

Acids and Bases in Your Kitchen

You eat acids and bases daily.

Takeaway. Acids and bases are not lab-only — they are everyday chemicals.

All Acids Are Not Strong Acids

Sour doesn't mean dangerous.

Takeaway. Acid strength ≠ acid concentration; strength is about ionisation, not amount.

Salts: The Product of Neutralisation

Every salt has a parent acid and base.

Takeaway. You can always trace a salt back to the acid and base that made it.

Neutralisation in Real Life

Chemistry that fixes everyday problems.

Takeaway. Neutralisation is the go-to fix whenever an acid or base is causing trouble.

Exam Tip: Always Write the Ionic Equation

Ions win marks.

Takeaway. Examiners reward ionic detail — not just 'acid + base = salt'.

Remember the pH Rule

Seven is the middle line.

Think of pH as a **number line with 7 in the middle**: anything to the left (below 7) is an acid, anything to the right (above 7) is a base.

Takeaway. pH 7 = neutral; below = acid; above = base.

Your Stomach Is Very Acidic

pH 1.5 — stronger than lemon juice.

Stomach acid (hydrochloric acid) has a pH of about **1.5–2**, making it one of the most acidic environments in the human body — strong enough to dissolve metal.

Takeaway. The human body uses strong acids for digestion.

Never Taste Lab Chemicals

Taste test = dangerous test.

Takeaway. Indicators exist precisely so you never need to taste or touch.