Many substances are acidic or basic. Concentrated acids and bases are corrosive so it is important to be able to identify them and to understand how they react.
Many important reactions involve acids and bases and they are used in medicines and agriculture.
24.1 Acids and bases in everyday life
Fig. 1 Household acids. 260
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Fig. 2 Household bases.
There are many everyday examples of acids and bases: Vitamin C is ascorbic acid. Citric acid is found in citrus fruits. Hydrochloric acid is the acid in the stomach. One of its functions is to kill bacteria. Sulfuric acid is used in car batteries and in the production of fertilisers. Benzoic acid is used to preserve food.