Acids and Bases
Acids and bases are two of the most important concepts in science. They play a major role in many chemical reactions, from digestion to manufacturing processes. In general terms, acids are substances that release hydrogen ions when they come into contact with water or other liquids, while bases accept these same hydrogen ions.
The strength of an acid or base is determined by its concentration (molarity). The higher the molarity of an acid or base solution, the stronger it is considered to be. pH is a measure used to indicate how acidic or basic a substance is on a scale ranging from 0-14. Values below 7 indicate increasing levels of acidity, whereas values above 7 denote increasingly alkaline solutions.
Understanding the basics behind acids and bases can help us understand numerous natural phenomena as well as laboratory experiments involving chemicals such as titrations, which involve measuring concentrations through neutralization reactions between strong acids and strong bases. It also helps us make better decisions regarding food safety since certain compounds may react differently depending on their level of acidity/basicity. For instance, cooking vegetables like spinach requires more attention than others due to their high oxalic acid content.