Q. What are the characteristics of bases?
Ans.
Common bases are borax, baking soda, and antacids. These are some characteristics of bases:
- 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.