Question

What do all the bases have in common? Give two equations as examples.​

Answer 1

All the bases have the following things in common-

• Bitter in taste.
• Soapy to touch.
• Turn red litmus to blue colour.
• On heating decompose into metal oxides and water.
• React with acids to form salt and water.
• Produce ${{OH}^{-}}$ ions in aqueous solution.

Examples of bases and alkalis-

• Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or caustic soda.
• Calcium hydroxide ( Ca(OH)2 ) or limewater.
• Ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH) or ammonia water.
• Magnesium hydroxide ( Mg(OH)2 ) or milk of magnesia.
• Many bleaches, soaps, toothpastes and cleaning agents.