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Because water molecules can both split off and accept a proton H+ :

  • H2O + H+ ---> H3O+ (hydroxonium ion)
  • H2O ---> H+ + OH- (hydroxide ion)
This is called the 'Water equilibrium of internal protolysis:
  • 2H2O <==> OH- + H3O+

    pKw = 14 or Kw = [H3O+]*[OH-] = 10^(-14)

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What does a acid and a base make?

Its simple, an acid + a base = salt Usually there is a fair amount of heat as well. Depending on the molecules in question, there may be gas produced, such as when mixing vinegar and baking soda (which are an acid and base).


When working with an acid or base what is important to remember?

It is important to wear appropriate personal protective equipment, work in a well-ventilated area, use the appropriate concentration of the acid or base, and always add acid to water (not water to acid) to avoid splattering and potential hazards.


What does an acid-base titration involve?

An acid-base titration involves mixing a measured volume of an acid solution with a base solution of known concentration until the reaction is complete. An indicator can be used to signal the reaction endpoint, which is known as the equivalence point. The volume of the base solution needed to reach the equivalence point is used to calculate the unknown concentration of the acid.


What reacts with an acid to form water and salt?

An acid is a proton donor (donates a hydrogen ion), whereas a base accepts the very same proton. For an acid to react there needs to be a base present, i.e. the acid forms a pair with the base, hence an acid-base reaction. Normally, the acid reacts with a water molecule (which as a matter of fact is an ampholyte, meaning water can react either as an acid or a base) that becomes protonated and is then called oxonium.


Is water both acidic and basic?

Pure water is neutral, that is, neither acidic nor basic. HOWEVER, it can act as acid as well as base on treating with base and acid respectively. this is said to be aMphoteric chracter of water.

Related Questions

What does a acid and a base make?

Its simple, an acid + a base = salt Usually there is a fair amount of heat as well. Depending on the molecules in question, there may be gas produced, such as when mixing vinegar and baking soda (which are an acid and base).


When working with an acid or base what is important to remember?

It is important to wear appropriate personal protective equipment, work in a well-ventilated area, use the appropriate concentration of the acid or base, and always add acid to water (not water to acid) to avoid splattering and potential hazards.


Why all acids are bases but all bases are not acids?

In any means, any acid which does exist is not similar to a base as they are categorized on entirely different behaviour. However, if the word 'alkali' is replaced to the word 'acid' in this question, an alkali is a base which can dissolve well in water, every base is not well soluble in water though.


What does an acid-base titration involve?

An acid-base titration involves mixing a measured volume of an acid solution with a base solution of known concentration until the reaction is complete. An indicator can be used to signal the reaction endpoint, which is known as the equivalence point. The volume of the base solution needed to reach the equivalence point is used to calculate the unknown concentration of the acid.


What reacts with an acid to form water and salt?

An acid is a proton donor (donates a hydrogen ion), whereas a base accepts the very same proton. For an acid to react there needs to be a base present, i.e. the acid forms a pair with the base, hence an acid-base reaction. Normally, the acid reacts with a water molecule (which as a matter of fact is an ampholyte, meaning water can react either as an acid or a base) that becomes protonated and is then called oxonium.


Is water both acidic and basic?

Pure water is neutral, that is, neither acidic nor basic. HOWEVER, it can act as acid as well as base on treating with base and acid respectively. this is said to be aMphoteric chracter of water.


Is HCNO an acid or a base?

There is no simple answer to this question, as HCNO is not a well-known or commonly studied compound. In general, the reactivity of a compound depends on its structure and chemical properties, which would need to be analyzed to determine if HCNO would behave as an acid or a base. Without further information, it is not possible to definitively classify HCNO as an acid or a base.


What happens if you mix an acid and a base together?

Well, Vinegar is an acid and Baking Soda is a base and when you mix those two you get a Chemical reaction and that is what happens when you mix any acid and base you get a chemical reaction.


IS CH3COO-1 a bronsted acid or base?

Well, the first step in Fischer Esterification is protonation of the carboxylic acid.


What two substances react to form salt and water only?

Well, I'm pretty sure that . . . Sodium+Chlorine = Salt and Hydrogen+Oxygen = Water Unless you mean only two to equal both salt AND water :S But I hope this helped!


How do acids and bases reacts with each other?

Well you measure acids and bases from what is a pH scale anything under 7 is an acid the lower the number the stronger the higher which is 7 above is bases so they are stronger they get. They might just form a stonger acid or base if come together.


What do you end up with if you combine acid and alkali?

An alkali is a base, so you are combining an acid and a base. This will result in a salt, water and probably a lot of heat being given off as well - stand clear.