Acid-base
Acid-base
Acid-base (pronunciation: /ˈæsɪd beɪs/) refers to a pair of two related terms in Chemistry and Biology, describing the nature of chemical substances. The concept is derived from the Arrhenius theory, which defines acids as substances that increase the concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) when dissolved in water, and bases as substances that increase the concentration of hydroxide ions (OH-) under the same conditions.
Etymology
The term "acid-base" is derived from the Latin words "acidus" meaning sour, and "basis" meaning step or place. The concept of acid and base was first introduced by Svante Arrhenius, a Swedish scientist, in the late 19th century.
Related Terms
- Acid: A substance that can donate a proton or accept an electron pair in reactions.
- Base: A substance that can accept a proton or donate an electron pair in reactions.
- pH: A measure of the hydrogen ion concentration in a solution, used to indicate the acidity or alkalinity of a solution.
- Buffer solution: A solution that resists changes in pH when small amounts of an acid or a base are added.
- Titration: A technique where a solution of known concentration is used to determine the concentration of an unknown solution.
Acid-base balance
In Physiology, the term "acid-base balance" refers to the regulation of the hydrogen ion concentration in body fluids. The body maintains the pH of blood and other body fluids within a narrow range, despite the ongoing production of acidic substances during metabolic processes. This is achieved through a series of chemical reactions and physiological mechanisms, collectively known as the acid-base homeostasis.
Acid-base reaction
An acid-base reaction is a chemical reaction that occurs between an acid and a base. The most common type of acid-base reaction is a neutralization reaction, where an acid reacts with a base to produce water and a salt.
This WikiMD.org article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.