The word “acid” comes from a Latin word meaning sour. Acids contain hydrogen and, when dissolved in water, produce positively charged hydrogen ions. Our tongues are able to detect acidic flavours, such as those of vinegar or citrus fruits, but these are very weak in comparison to some acids used in industry, such as sulphuric acid, which burns badly if it comes into contact with skin.
Acids are chemical agents that release hydrogen ions when added to water. Their chemistry makes them one of the most important classes of molecules in nature and science. So many of us have heard of the term pH, which in general is the measure of the amount of acidity or alkalinity that is in a solution. More specifically, it is a measure of the amount of protons or hydrogen ions that are present in an aqueous solution. Acids are primary contributors to the measure of pH in a solution, and the presence of acids a key characteristic of almost all solutions.
The pH scale is a scale that is used to represent the level of acidity in a solution. A solution with a pH of 7 is neutral, while a solution with a pH below 7 is an acid, and a solution with a pH above 7 is a base. An acid dissociates, or breaks apart, and donates protons, or hydrogen ions, in an aqueous solution, while a base donates hydroxide ions in a solution. Water, for example, is neutral with a pH of 7. When acids are added, they release more hydrogen ions into the solution, and this causes the pH of the solution to drop. Let me repeat: more hydrogen ions equals a lower pH and a more acidic solution.
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