Acids and Bases

Acids and bases differ in that acids release protons and bases recieve protons. They transfer these protons in the form of an H+ molecule, making them either basic or acidic from the transfer of that molecule. Solutions are determined to be either acidic or basic depending on their placement on the Ph scale. A solution's postition on the Ph scale can be determined by placing a Ph test strip in the solution, waiting for the strip to change color, and looking at the color key that (should) come with the strips. The key may have a number scale, which should read from 0 to 14. If a solution is below 7 on the scale, it is labeled as acidic. If a solution is above 7, it is labeled as basic. The severity of how acidic or basic it is. The lower on the scale it is, the more acidic it is. The higher on the scale a solution is, the more basic it is. Solutions on the number 7 mark are labeled as neutral, making them less likely to transfer H+ ions. Acids contain more hydrogen while bases contain more hydroxide ions because of their individual transfers of ions.