The word "acid" is spelled with the letters A-C-I-D. According to the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), the pronunciation of this word is /ˈæs.ɪd/. The first syllable is pronounced with the short "a" sound and the second syllable with the "s" sound. The third syllable is pronounced with the short "i" sound and the final syllable with the "d" sound. The word is commonly used to refer to a substance that has a sour taste and can dissolve metals.
Acid is a noun that refers to a substance with a sour taste, the property of being corrosive, and the ability to release positively charged hydrogen ions when dissolved in water. Acids are commonly found in various contexts such as chemistry, biology, and everyday life.
Chemically, acids are identified by their low pH values, with a pH less than 7, as they have a higher concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) compared to hydroxide ions (OH-). The acidity of a substance is determined by the concentration of hydrogen ions it contains, and the strength of an acid is a measure of the degree to which it donates these ions.
In the realm of chemistry, acids are classified into different types based on their chemical composition and properties. For instance, mineral acids (e.g., sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid) are typically strong acids that dissociate almost completely in water, while organic acids (e.g., acetic acid, citric acid) are weak acids that only partially dissociate.
Beyond the field of chemistry, acids have numerous practical applications. They are commonly used in the production of fertilizers, batteries, and cleaning agents. In biology, acids play essential roles in various physiological processes. For instance, stomach acid aids in the digestion of food, while nucleic acids are crucial components of genetic material (DNA and RNA).
In summary, an acid is a sour-tasting substance capable of corroding materials and releasing positively charged hydrogen ions when dissolved in water. It is characterized by a low pH value and can be categorized based on its strength and chemical composition. Acids have widespread applications in fields such as chemistry, biology, and industrial manufacturing.
1. A compound of an electronegative element or radical with hydrogen; it forms salts by replacing all or part of the hydrogen with an electropositive element or radical. An acid containing one displaceable atom of hydrogen in the molecule is called monobasic; one containing two such atoms, bibasic; and one containing more than two, polybasic. 2. In popular language, any chemical compound which has a sour taste. 3. Sour, sharp to the taste: 4. Relating to an acid; giving an acid reaction, turning a vegetable blue red. (For definitions of the different acids, see the adjectives or under acidum; the acids official in the U.S. and Br. Pharmacopeias are defined under acidum.).
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
• Something which causes sourness to the taste.
• Sour; sharp; biting to the taste.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "acid" has its roots in Old French "acide" and Latin "acidus". In Latin, "acidus" means sour or sharp. The term "acidus" was derived from the Latin word "acēre", meaning to be sharp or sour.