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acid

Primary Information
Secondary Information

Definition

An acid is a substance that makes things taste sour. It can also make your skin feel tingly or make your hair stand on end. Acids are found in many things, including lemons, vinegar, and batteries.

Here are some other things that acids can do:

  • They can dissolve metals.
  • They can make litmus paper turn red.
  • They can react with bases to form salts.

How can the word be used?

Acids can be identified by their sour taste, their ability to dissolve metals, and their ability to turn litmus paper red.

acid

Different forms of the word

Noun:

acid (plural: acids).

a substance that donates a proton (H+) to another substance.

a sour-tasting liquid that can dissolve metals.

Adjective:

  • acidic.
  • having the properties of an acid.
  • sour.

Verb:

  • acidify.
  • to make something acidic.

Etymology

The word "acid" can refer to a substance that is produced by some insects and that can be used for defense or for communication. For example, some ants produce formic acid, which they can spray at predators to deter them. Other insects, such as bombardier beetles, produce a mixture of acids that can be ignited to produce a hot, boiling spray that can also deter predators.

Question

What is an acid?