ELI5: acids, bases and salts

What are acids, bases, and salts?

Acids are like sour things you find in your kitchen—like lemon juice or vinegar—that taste tangy and can sting your tongue [1]. Bases are the opposite and feel slippery, like soap [1]. When you mix an acid and a base together, they neutralize each other and make a salt, which is neither sour nor soapy [3].

Why do acids and bases react with each other?

Acids have tiny invisible particles called H+ ions floating around in them, while bases have OH- ions [3]. When these two types of particles meet, they stick together and create water and a salt—it's like a puzzle where two different pieces fit together perfectly [3].

What makes something sour or bitter-tasting?

Acids taste sour because of all those H+ particles they release [1]. Bases taste bitter and feel slippery because of their OH- particles [1]. You can test whether something is an acid or base using special paper called litmus paper that changes color [2].

How do we use acids and bases in real life?

We use acids and bases in cooking, cleaning, and even our bodies [2]. Acids like vinegar help flavor food, while bases like baking soda help cakes rise [2]. When acids and bases mix, they make salts that we use in everyday things too [3].