1. Acids and Bases Characteristics of Acids and Bases Properties of Acids
-tastes sour
-change the color of litmus paper from blue to red
-indicate acidic values on universal indicator paper
-reacts with certain metals to produce hydrogen gas
-reacts with metal hydroxides, or bases, to produce water and a salt.
sulfuric
acid
phosphoric
acid
citric
acid
acetic
acid

2. Acids and Bases sodium hydroxide magnesium hydroxide
Properties of Bases
-tastes bitter or feels slippery
-change the color of litmus paper from red to blue
-indicate basic values on universal indicator paper
-reacts with many compounds containing hydrogen ions, or acids, to produce water and a salt.
ammonium hydroxide
sodium bicarbonate

3. Acids and Bases To determine an acid or a base:
-extracted pigment from red cabbage can be used as
an indicator
-basic solutions turn green, and acidic solutions turn
red
-universal indicator
-litmus paper
-pH meter/probe

4. Acid or Base?
If you tested an unknown substance, write down whether you think the following would be an acid or a base based on each observation:
1. Upon putting the substance to your tongue, you find that it has a sour taste
2. After touching the substance, it feels slippery
3. When you taste the substance, it tastes bitter
4. Combining this substance with a known acid produces water and a salt
5. Putting a metal into a test tube of this substance yields hydrogen gas