10 Interesting Facts about Acids


These following facts about acids should probably give you much information about this chemical substance. Acid is is a chemical substance whose aqueous solutions are characterized by a sour taste, the ability to turn blue litmus red, and the ability to react with bases and certain metals to form salts. Aqueous solutions of acids have a pH of less than 7. A lower pH means a higher acidity, and thus a higher concentration of hydrogen ions in the solution. Furthermore, to get to know more about this substance, here are some other facts about acids you might be interested in.

Facts about acids 1: Acid in Milk

Yes, even in the milk the blessed food item, is found acid. The acid which is found in milk is called lactic acid. This acid is used to form yogurt. Lactic is the word taken from the Latin word “lac”.

Facts about acids 2: Aqua Regia

Aqua regia is very powerful acid. This terminology is taken from Latin, it means royal water. It can dissolve gold. It is made of one part nitric acid and three parts of concentrated hydrochloric acid.

Facts about acids - Acetic acid
Facts about acids – Acetic acid

Facts about acids 3: Weak and Strong Acid

There are many weak and strong acids found in the world. Some are hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid, phosphoric acid etc. these acids are every strong and only they are used in concentrated from when used for testing.

Facts about acids 4: Vinegar

Vinegar, the most common content of many foods is also an acid. But this is not dangerous for health because it is weak in nature and gives boost to the digestion of food.

Facts about acids - Aspirin skeletal
Facts about acids – Aspirin skeletal

Facts about acids 5: Stomach

Forget about the outer world, our own digestive system works due to the presence of a concentrated acid in our stomach. This acid is also found in saliva. The concentrated acid in our stomach (hydrochloric acid) makes it possible for the humans as well as animals to digest some strong food contents. Like meat etc that otherwise cannot be digested.

Facts about acids 6: Batteries

Acid that is used in car batteries is also known as “oil of vitriol”. This acid is actually the sulphuric acid. It is very very powerful and dangerous when exposed to direct contact.

Facts about acids - Hydrochloric acid ammonia
Facts about acids – Hydrochloric acid ammonia

Facts about acids 7: Acid Burnt

We see the use of acid in criminal activities too. Many a times, acid is thrown to the opponents face or other body parts which leaves the person with permanent burn injuries and marks. Sometimes, acid even takes the life of the victim hence its use is banned.

Facts about acids 8: Drinks

There are many drinks like coca cola, Pepsi, fizz etc which are made by using an acid. This acid is called carbonic acid. Due to this acid the bubbles of carbon dioxide are formed in the drink. For this reason these drinks are not health friendly.

Facts about acids - Lewis acid
Facts about acids – Lewis acid

Facts about acids 9: Jewel Making

Powerful acid is used to clean up the jewelry. The gold and silver jewels turn black and lose their original looks with the passage of time. They are then put for a second into acid which takes away all old looks leaving them look as new as they could be.

Facts about acids 10: Strength

The strength of an acid refers to its ability or tendency to lose a proton. A strong acid is one that completely dissociates in water; in other words, one mole of a strong acid HA dissolves in water yielding one mole of H+ and one mole of the conjugate base, A, and none of the protonated acid HA. In contrast, a weak acid only partially dissociates and at equilibrium both the acid and the conjugate base are in solution.

Facts about acids - Zinc reaction
Facts about acids – Zinc reaction

Hope you would find those acids facts really interesting, useful and helpful for your additional reading.


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