Base (chemistry)

Base (chemistry)

A base in Chemistry is a substance that can accept Hydrogen ions (H+) or donate a pair of valence electrons. The term "base" comes from the Old English "bæs," which means "low," possibly because the base was thought to be below the acid in a reaction.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /beɪs/

Etymology

The term "base" in chemistry was first used by the French chemist, Guillaume François Rouelle in 1754. He considered this class of compounds to be the "base" or foundation for the salt, hence the name.

Definition

In the Bronsted-Lowry theory, a base is defined as a substance that can accept a proton (H+) from another substance. In the Lewis theory, a base is a substance that can donate a pair of non-bonding electrons. Bases are the chemical opposite of acids.

Properties

Bases have certain common properties. They have a bitter taste and a slippery feel. They also change the color of Litmus paper from red to blue, indicating a pH greater than 7.

Examples

Common examples of bases include Ammonia (NH3), Sodium hydroxide (NaOH), and Potassium hydroxide (KOH).

Related Terms

• Acid
• pH
• Alkali
• Neutralization
• Salt

See Also

• Acid-base reaction theories
• Acid dissociation constant
• Base excess
• Base pair
• Base sequence

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Base (chemistry)
• Wikipedia's article - Base (chemistry)

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