Solutions, acids & bases · Topic 13 of 15
Acids, Bases & pH
Tap any line to see why it matters
Acids, Bases & pH
Acids donate H⁺ and bases accept it; pH 7 is neutral, each pH unit is tenfold, and acid + base gives salt + water.
What it is
Know by heart
The rules
Worked examples
Don't confuse
Strong or weak?
Commonly confused| Strong acid or base | Weak acid or base | |
|---|---|---|
| Ionizes in water | Completely (100%) | Only partly |
| Acids | HCl, HNO₃, H₂SO₄ | Acetic acid (vinegar) |
| Bases | NaOH, KOH | Ammonia (NH₃) |
| Not the same as | Concentrated — a strong acid can be dilute | Dilute — a weak acid can be concentrated |
Common mistakes
More detail
Show 3 more facts
Low pH, lots of H⁺: every step down the scale is ten times more acidic.
Sources · OpenStax Chemistry 2e §14.1 Brønsted-Lowry Acids and Bases · OpenStax Chemistry 2e §14.2 pH and pOH · OpenStax Chemistry 2e §14.3 Relative Strengths of Acids and Bases · OpenStax Chemistry 2e §4.2 Classifying Chemical Reactions (acid-base and neutralization) · OpenStax Chemistry 2e §14.6 Buffers · LibreTexts Introductory Chemistry §14.7 Strong and Weak Acids and Bases · LibreTexts Introductory Chemistry §14.2 Acids: Properties and Examples · LibreTexts Introductory Chemistry §14.3 Bases: Properties and Examples · LibreTexts Introduction to Chemistry (Anoka-Ramsey) §15.5 Strong and Weak Acids and Bases (strength vs concentration) · Union Test Prep — HESI Chemistry study guide, page 3 (acids and bases, the pH scale, litmus) · NurseHub — HESI A2 Chemistry review: Acids and Bases lesson · Built from the verified NurseSavvy HESI A2 fact map (facts reviewed 2026-10-16). HESI is a trademark of Elsevier; NurseSavvy is not affiliated with Elsevier.
Practice this topic, then test the whole section.
HESI and HESI A2 are registered trademarks of Elsevier. NurseSavvy is not affiliated with or endorsed by Elsevier.