Final answer:
Characteristics of acids include having a sour taste, changing the color of acid-base indicators like litmus, and corroding metals by producing hydrogen gas. Acids produce hydronium ions in water, not hydroxide ions, which are indicative of bases.
Step-by-step explanation:
A student asked which of the following are characteristics of acids. There are several characteristics that can help identify an acid:
- Acids taste sour. Examples of acidic substances include lemons, vinegar, and sour candies.
- Acids change the color of certain acid-base indicators. For instance, blue litmus paper turns red in acidic conditions, and phenolphthalein turns colorless.
- Acids can corrode metals, particularly those above hydrogen in the activity series, releasing hydrogen gas in a single-replacement reaction.
The characteristic of producing hydronium ion in a solution is also associated with acids; they are known to release hydrogen ions (H+) when dissolved in water, which then combine with water molecules to form hydronium ions (H3O+).
Conversely, the production or presence of hydroxide ions is a property of bases, not acids. Arrhenius bases are the substances that yield hydroxide ions in a solution.