What does "Base" mean?
Everyone has heard of a "base" before; but what is actually behind the term? With little basic chemical knowledge, you can quickly understand the acid-base theory and see what "base" means.
That means "base" - an explanation
- The term "base" means in a narrow sense that a compound in an aqueous solution can form a certain type of ions, the hydroxide ions. These carry a negative charge.
- At the same time, such substances absorb positively charged ions, the protons, from an acid. Overall, it is an acid-base reaction.
- A base has a high pH, between 7 and 14. When checking a solution with a pH paper, this takes on various shades of blue if a base is present. In this way it can be quickly determined whether a liquid is basic or not.
Manufacture and properties of a base
- Bases can be made in different ways. For example, such compounds can be formed from metals and water, which means that elements from the 1st Main group and partly from the 2nd Main group can be used.
- The combination of metal oxide and water also gives a base.
- Bases usually have caustic properties and have a destructive effect on organic substances.
- Most bases have good water solubility, for example sodium hydroxide. However, some do not dissolve in water at all (example: aluminum hydroxide).
- Bases play a role in many chemical reactions, for example in neutralization reactions in combination with acids. A classic example is the neutralization of hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide, which supplies sodium chloride (= table salt) and water as end products.
- In combination with fats and oils, bases can be used to make soap.
In chemistry, acid is understood to be a compound that is attached to its ...
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