The physical world around us is made of a large number of chemicals. Among them, acids, bases and salts are mostly used in everyday life. An acid is a compound capable of forming hydrogen ions (H+) in aqueous solution, whereas a base is a compound that forms hydroxyl ions (OH-) in solution. When an acid and a base react with each other, a neutral product called salt is formed.
1. What Are Acids?
Fruits, curd, vinegar and fruit juices taste sour because of acids. The word 'acid' is derived from the Latin word "acidus", which means sour taste. Substances with sour taste are called acids.
Acids and Their Sources
| Source | Acid Present |
|---|---|
| Apple | Malic acid |
| Lemon | Citric acid |
| Grape | Tartaric acid |
| Tomato | Oxalic acid |
| Vinegar | Acetic acid |
| Curd | Lactic acid |
| Orange | Ascorbic acid |
| Tea | Tannic acid |
| Stomach juice | Hydrochloric acid |
| Stings of ant, bee | Formic acid |