Q. What are the characteristics of bases?

Ans.

Common bases are borax, baking soda, and antacids. These are some characteristics of bases:

• They taste bitter.

• Bases react with acids in neutralization reactions. Usually the products of these reactions are salts and water.

• Some metals do react with bases and produce hydrogen.

• Bases can turn red litmus to blue.

Three definitions of bases follow:

• Arrhenius definition: Bases produce OH^- ions in aqueous solutions.

• Bronsted-Lowry definition: Bases are hydrogen ion acceptors.

• Lewis definition: Bases are electron pair donators.