Acids taste sour
Have you tasted a lemon? It is very sour! Foods that taste sour usually have an acid in them. Vinegar, orange juice and lemon juice are all acids.
Alkalis feel slippery
An alkali is the opposite of an acid. Alkalis can feel slippery and taste bitter. Soap, toothpaste and baking soda are alkalis.
Example
We test with litmus paper. An acid turns blue litmus paper red. An alkali turns red litmus paper blue.
Stay safe
Some acids and alkalis are strong and can hurt us. In the science room we must always be careful.
Remember
- Acids taste sour (lemon, vinegar).
- Alkalis feel slippery (soap).
- Never taste unknown chemicals!