Question: how are acids made ?

Samantha Weaver answered on 6 Jul 2012:

Here’s a very simplified explanation:

A chemist named Svante Arrhenius came up with a way to define acids and bases in 1887. He saw that when you put molecules into water, sometimes they break down and release an H+ (hydrogen) ion. At other times, you find the release of an OH- (hydroxide) ion. When a hydrogen ion is released, the solution becomes acidic. When a hydroxide ion is released, the solution becomes basic. Those two special ions determine whether you are looking at an acid or a base. For example, vinegar is also called acetic acid. (Okay, that gives away the answer.) If you look at its atoms when it’s in water, you will see the molecule CH3COOH split into CH3COO- and H+. That hydrogen ion is the reason it is called an acid. Chemists use the word “dissociated” to describe the breakup of a compound.

Scientists use something called the pH scale to measure how acidic or basic a liquid is. Although there may be many types of ions in a solution, pH focuses on concentrations of hydrogen ions (H+) and hydroxide ions (OH-). The scale measures values from 0 all the way up to 14. Distilled water is 7 (right in the middle). Acids are found between 0 and 7. Bases are from 7 to 14.