What is the difference between an acidic and basic solution?

Answer 1

Pure liquid water exists primarily as molecules of H2O. Some (very few) H2O molecules in liquid water will dissociate (separate) into one free H+ ion and one free OH- ion. The number of H+ and OH- ions in pure water are equal (H/OH=1), which makes water neutral. When a compound is added to water that shifts the ratio of H+ and OH- ions so that there is more free H+ than free OH- (H/OH>1) the solution becomes acidic.

The easiest way to make water acidic is to add something to the water that will dissociate into H+ ions and negative ions that are not OH-. For example, sulfuric acid (H2SO4) will separate into two H+ ions and one SO4- ion. Thus, every one molecule of H2SO4 added to water will make the ratio of H/OH = 3 (one H+ from the water plus two H+ from the sulfuric acid divided by one OH- from water = 3).

As an extra bit of info... Free H+ ions in water will always associate with an H2O molecule to produce H3O+. Thus, the ratio of H3O/OH is what we are actually calculating.

Answer 2

So called pure water, which in chemistry terms would actually be distilled water has a Ph of 7. It's neutral. As soon as it is exposed to the air, it is not neutral anymore though! It's not supposed to taste like anything. Water won't react with basic solutions or acidic solutions. Acid had a Ph lower than 7. It is supposed to taste sour, like lemon juice. It will react with basic solutions. Sometimes violently and dangerously. I won't tell you what common household items you shouldn't mix together to see how reactive it can be! That's all I can remember. Haven't taken a chemistry class in almost 15 years!

Answer 3

The difference between acidic and basic solutions is the reversed imbalance of the concentrations of H+ and OH- ions in water (at 25oC):

• acidic: [H+] > 1.0*10-7 > [OH-]
• basic : [H+] < 1.0*10-7 < [OH-]

Answer 4

Any aqueous solution is going to have some hydrogen ions (H+) and some hydroxide ions (OH-) as a result of the dissociation of water, as well as any acids or bases in the solution. If the quantity of hydrogen ions exceeds the quantity of hydroxide ions, that is an acidic solution, and if the quantity of hydroxide ions exceeds the quantity of hydrogen ions, that is a basic solution; if there is exactly the same concentration of both types of ion, that is a neutral solution.

Answer 5

One way that it differs is that they have different pH levels. The pH of water is 7 and the pH of acid is less than 7. Hope this helps!

Answer 6

Acidic solutions contain higher concentrations of H+ ions than pure water and have pH values below 7.

Answer 7

basic solutions have more bases in them, molecules that release 0H- ions in the solution. acidic solutions have more acids, molecules that give off H+ ions in the solution