What is Base in chemistry?
In chemistry, a base is a substance that
- can receive protons (H+)
- or give a pair of electrons in chemical reactions.
Bases are usually categorized by their pH, which determine the quantity of hydrogen ions in a solution.
Classification of base
The classification of bases resulted in following types:
Strong bases
Weak bases
Organic bases:
Inorganic bases:
Lewis bases:
Strong bases:
These are bases that completely separate in water to form
- hydroxide ions (OH-)
- and cations.
Examples of strong bases include
- potassium hydroxide (KOH)
- and calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2).
Weak bases:
These are bases that moderately separate in water, and their capacity to accept protons is less . weak bases includes following example:
- ammonia (NH3)
- methylamine (CH3NH2)
- and ethylamine (C2H5NH2).
Organic bases:
These are bases that have carbon atoms in their molecular structure. Organic bases includes examples such as
- Amine(methylamine (CH3NH2) and pyridine (C5H5N)).
Inorganic bases:
These are bases that do not possess carbon atoms in their molecular structure. Inorganic bases includes following examples, such as
- sodium hydroxide
- and calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2).
Lewis bases:
These are bases that give a pair of electrons to create a covalent bond with a Lewis acid.Lewis bases include following given examples:
- ammonia (NH3)
- and water (H2O).
properties of base
Bases have several significant properties in chemistry:
- Bases have a sour taste and a slippery or soapy feel. Such as
- soap is a base and can be slippery to the touch.
- Bases change red litmus paper blue. This is due to higher pH value of base than acids.
- Bases can cancel out the effects of acid in chemical reactions, producing salts and water.
- Bases can interact with certain metals to produce hydrogen gas. Such as
- sodium hydroxide can react with aluminum to form aluminum hydroxide (Al(OH)3) and hydrogen gas (H2).
- Bases have a pH value greater than 7 on the pH scale. The pH scale determined
the acidity or basicity of a substance
- with 7 being neutral
- values less than 7 being acidic
- and values greater than 7 being basic or alkaline.
- Bases can conduct electricity in solution. This is due to dissociation of bases into ions in water, which permit them to transport an electrical charge.