Question

What happens when an acid or base is mixed with water?

Answer 1

Hint:Acids are compounds that have the ability to liberate hydrogen ions in aqueous solutions, while bases have the capability to liberate hydroxide ions. Acids have a lower pH range while bases have a pH range near 14.

Complete step-by-step answer:Acids have the ability to dissociate into positive hydrogen ions, while bases can dissociate into negative hydroxide ions. The extent of their dissociation or liberation of these ions makes any acid or base strong or weak.
When any acid is mixed with water, the following reaction occurs,
$$HCl+H_{2}O\to H_3{O}^{+}+C{l}^{-}$$
This happens, as acids can liberate hydrogen, $H^{+}$ion, which is taken up by the water molecule and gets hydrated to form hydronium, $H_3{O}^{+}$ions. Along with the formation of hydronium ion, the anion from the acid is left as the solution.
When any base is mixed with water, the following reaction occurs,
$$NaOH\stackrel{H_{2}O}{\to }N{a}^{+}+O{H}^{-}$$
As bases have the capacity to liberate hydroxide, $O{H}^{-}$ions, so they dissociate into hydroxide anion, and the cation of the salt, here sodium ion, $N{a}^{+}$.
Hence, acids and bases mix in water to dissociate and form hydronium and hydroxide ions respectively.

Additional information: Acids and bases react together to form salts. This is called a neutralization reaction, and can yield various important salts, like sodium chloride, as $HCl+NaOH\to NaCl+H_{2}O$ .

Note:While mixing acid and water, in case any strong acid is mixed, then utmost care has to be taken in the order of pouring the acid and water. Always acid is added to water, and not water into an acid, as strong acids would result in the release of energy as the reaction will be highly exothermic.