What is the difference between acid,base,salt, amphoteric and neutral?

In summary, an acid is a chemical substance with a low pH and the ability to donate protons, while a base has a high pH and can accept protons. A salt is a neutral compound formed from the reaction of an acid and a base. Amphoteric substances can act as both acids and bases. A neutral substance has a pH of 7 and cannot donate or accept protons. A substance cannot be both acidic and basic at the same time, but can exhibit both properties as an amphoteric substance.
  • #1
abi.ayan
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what is the difference between acid,base,salt, amphoteric and neutral compounds ? How all these properties are related to pH scale? Could anyone explain in detail pls?
 
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  • #2
These terms can be found in any chemistry textbook or the IUPAC Gold Book, which is available readily online.
 

1. What is an acid and how is it different from a base?

An acid is a chemical substance that has a low pH and a sour taste. It is able to donate protons (H+) to a solution. On the other hand, a base is a chemical substance that has a high pH and a bitter taste. It is able to accept protons (H+) from a solution. The main difference between acids and bases is their ability to donate or accept protons, respectively.

2. What is a salt and how is it different from an acid or a base?

A salt is a compound formed when an acid reacts with a base. It is composed of a positive ion from a base and a negative ion from an acid. Unlike acids and bases, salts are typically neutral in pH and do not have a sour or bitter taste. They are also typically solid at room temperature, unlike acids and bases which can be liquids or gases.

3. What does it mean for a substance to be amphoteric?

An amphoteric substance is one that can act as both an acid and a base. This means that it can both donate and accept protons in a solution. Examples of amphoteric substances include water, amino acids, and certain metal oxides.

4. How is a neutral substance different from an acid or a base?

A neutral substance has a pH of 7 and is neither acidic nor basic. It is often considered to be in a balanced state, with equal amounts of positive and negative ions. Unlike acids and bases, neutral substances do not have the ability to donate or accept protons in a solution.

5. Can a substance be both acidic and basic at the same time?

No, a substance cannot be both acidic and basic at the same time. This is because acids and bases have opposite properties and cannot coexist in the same solution. However, as mentioned previously, some substances can exhibit both acidic and basic properties and are considered to be amphoteric.

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