What makes a substance a base?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking about the characteristics that define a substance as a base in chemistry. It seeks to understand the properties and criteria used to categorize substances that can accept protons or donate electron pairs.
Answer
A substance is a base if it has a pH higher than 7 and contains more hydroxide ions (OH-) than hydrogen ions (H+).
A substance is a base if it has a pH higher than 7 and contains more hydroxide ions (OH-) than hydrogen ions (H+). Bases can also accept hydrogen ions (protons).
Answer for screen readers
A substance is a base if it has a pH higher than 7 and contains more hydroxide ions (OH-) than hydrogen ions (H+). Bases can also accept hydrogen ions (protons).
More Information
pH is a measure of how acidic or basic a substance is on a scale of 0 to 14. A pH of 7 is neutral, below 7 is acidic, and above 7 is basic.
Tips
A common mistake is to confuse a base with an acid. Remember that bases have a pH higher than 7 and are characterized by the presence of hydroxide ions (OH-).
Sources
- What makes a substance a base - Homework Study - homework.study.com
- Base (chemistry) - Wikipedia - en.wikipedia.org
- Acids, Bases, and the pH Scale - nau.edu - .nau.edu
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