Question

What are soapy to touch and have bitter taste?
(A) Acids
(B) Bases
(C) Salts
(D) Sugar

Answer 1

Hint: We know that acids are sour in taste, sugar is sweet in taste and salts are salty in taste. Acids are the substances which produce hydrogen ions and bases will produce hydroxide ions. Neutralization of acid and base give salts.

Complete Solution :
First, let us understand what a base is. The ionic compounds that produce hydroxide ions $[O{{H}^{-}}]$ when dissolved in water are called bases.
Bases are of three types, they are:
- Arrhenius base.
- Bronsted base.
- Lewis base.

- According to Arrhenius, base is a substance that dissociates in aqueous solution to form Hydroxide ions$[O{{H}^{-}}]$. These $[O{{H}^{-}}]$ ions react with hydrogen ions$[{{H}^{+}}]$, to give water. Bases reduce the hydronium ion $[{{H}_{3}}{{O}^{+}}]$ concentration in water.
- According to Bronsted theory, a base is a substance which can accept the protons$[{{H}^{+}}]$.
- According to the Lewis theory, a base is a substance which can donate the electron pair.
- Bases are soapy to touch.
- Bases have bitter taste.
- Bases turn red litmus paper blue. It does not show any change with blue litmus paper.
- Salts are formed when bases undergo neutralization with acids.
- Strong or concentrated bases are called caustic.
- The pH value of bases is above 7.
- They conduct electricity when dissolved in water.

Additional Information:
The physical properties of acids, salts and sugars are given below.
ACIDS:
- Acids are sour in taste.
- It changes blue litmus paper red.
- It produces $[{{H}^{+}}]$ ions when dissolved in water.

SALTS:
- Salts are white crystalline substances.
- They are soluble in water.
- They are transparent and are hygroscopic in nature.
- Acids and bases undergo neutralization to form salt.

SUGARS:
- Sugar is a type of carbohydrates.
- It is used as a sweetening agent in food.
- It is soluble in water.
So, the correct answer is “Option B”.

Note: Some of the common household bases which we are using in our day to day life are:
- Baking soda
- Baking powder
- Detergents
- Soaps
- Mouth wash
- Hair dye
- Tooth paste.