Question

What are the similarities and differences between acids and bases?

Answer 1

For a given solvent, water, ammonia, hydrogen fluoride, sulfuric acid....

Explanation:

The acid is the characteristic CATION, and the base is the characteristic ANION...and typically their concentrations obey an equilibrium expression...for example, water...

`2H_2O(l) rightleftharpoonsH_3O^+ + HO^-`

...`K_w=[H_3O^+][HO^-]=10^-14`.

For liquid ammonia...

`2NH_3rightleftharpoonsNH_4^+ + NH_2^(-)`

`K_"ammonlysis"=[NH_4^+][NH_2^-]=10^-31`.