Introduction

What is a base in chemistry? a base is a substance that reacts with acids to form a salt and which releases
hydroxide ions, accepts protons, or donates electrons in aqueous solution. They neutralize acids by reacting
with hydrogen ions to form salts and water. A base that dissolves in water is also known as an alkali.
Base Definition
All bases react with acids to form salts, but there are different definitions of what, exactly, a base is. Each
base definition has a corresponding acid definition.
Lewis Bases
Bases that might be electron-pair donors are known as Lewis Bases, at the same time as substances that take
delivery of those electron pairs are Lewis acids. Here are a few examples of Bases at home: Alcohol, hair
dye, insecticides, plaster, Epsom salts, and so on.
Arrhenius Bases
They shape hydroxide ions and grow the concentration of hydroxide inside the water. Examples: Drain
cleaner, laundry detergent, lubricating grease, alkaline batteries, soaps and bathtub merchandise, sugar,
baking soda.
Bronsted-Lowry Bases
Bases that are given protons from different molecules are called Bronsted-Lowry Bases. Examples are
Ammonia, alkaline batteries, mouthwash, plastic, chewing gum, furniture upholstery, and many others.
Classification of Bases
How can you tell what type of base you are dealing with? Most bases can be classified as strong or weak;
concentrated or diluted; or monoacidic, diacidic, or triacidic. These qualities can be determined in the
following classifications.
1.Degree of Ionization
This type of classification describes the strength of a base. If a base has a low amount of hydroxyl ions, it’s
considered to be a weak base.
Strong and Weak Bases
A strong base is a compound that fully dissociates into its ions in aqueous solution. A weak base
incompletely dissociates into its ions, so that the resulting aqueous solution contains weak base, its
conjugate acid, and water.
The strong bases are classic Arrhenius bases made from alkali or alkaline earth metals and hydroxide ions.
2. Concentration
If a base is diluted, it contains a high amount of water.
 Concentrated bases have high percentages of base substances compared to their water levels.
 Diluted bases have lower concentrations of base and more water.
3. Acidity
It seems counterintuitive, but bases can be acidic too depending on how many hydroxyl ions it has that
combine with hydrogen ions.
Physical Properties of Bases
1.Bases Taste Bitter 
 Bases are quite bitter in taste, and thus, there are very few food materials that are alkaline.
 Tasting bases are considered to be more dangerous than tasting acids. It is because of the property of
stronger bases for denaturation of proteins.
2.Bases are colorless except for the hydroxides of iron and copper.
3.Bases feel slippery.
4.Base also changes the color of the indicator. The litmus paper turns blue in the presence of base.
5. Bases do not react with metals like that of acids.
Chemical Properties
1.Bases Neutralize Acids in Neutralization Reaction 
 Bases react with acids to produce salt and water. In this reaction, the acid and base neutralize each
other. Therefore, these reactions are called neutralization reactions.
 Neutralization Reaction is defined as a reaction between an acid and a base, producing salt and water.
2. The pH value of bases ranges from 8-14.
3. Bases lose their basicity when mixed with acids.
4.Bases react vigorously when dissolved in water. The reaction is exothermic.
5.Bases react with acids to form salt and water. This neutralization reaction can be used for the synthesis of
different types of salts.

Uses of Base in Household

 Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking soda) - It is used in cooking, baking and cleaning.
 Ammonia - Most people prefer it as a cleaning and disinfectant solution for various surfaces and
fixtures.
 Sodium carbonate is used as washing soda for household cleaning applications.
 Sodium benzoate is used as a food pickling agent in many salads.
 Borax is used for pest control in kitchens.
 Borax is used as a buffering agent in swimming pools.
 Dilute ammonia is used in many households cleaning agents.
 Calcium carbonate is used as a scrubbing and cleaning agent in our homes.
 Other bases used in household includes detergents, shampoo, Borax, Chlorine, bleach, toothpaste and
drain cleaners.
Uses of Base on Crime Scenes
 Anhydrous ammonia is a key ingredient in the illegal production of methamphetamines (meth) found
in crime scenes.
 Ammonia is used to torture kidnapped victims since ammonia is irritating and corrosive. Exposure to
high concentrations of ammonia in air causes immediate burning of the nose, throat and respiratory
tract, which leads to death.
 Hypochlorite is a common component in household bleaches and cleaners, which are often used to
remove blood from crime scenes.
Uses of Base in our Daily Lives
Bases are used daily in our daily lives. It is used in medicine, industry, and in our homes. We can see many
examples of Bases in everyday life as well. Many substances or chemicals which we use in our daily life are
actually Bases such as drain cleaner, detergent, lubricating grease, baking soda or baking powder, soaps,
toothpaste, mouth wash, chewing gum, hair dye, pesticides etc.
Here we have discussed some of the general uses of bases in our daily lives:

1. Bases are highly used in the production of soaps and papers.

2. They are used as preservatives in the food industry.
3. Bases are added as flocculants during sewage treatments to properly treat the sewage problem.
4. The textile industry uses bases to manufacture affordable fiber in the form of rayon. Bases are used
in the production of rayon.
5. Bases like ammonia are used as a chief material in the production of fertilizers that are nitrogen-
based.
6. Hard water is softened by the use of bases. Several bases are added to soften the water, such as
calcium hydroxide, borax, and ammonia.
7. Bases are used as cleaning agents.
8. In the medical industry, indigestion, ulcers, and heartburn is treated by the use of bases.
9. Other than being a good preservative, bases are also added to foods as a food thickener.
10. Acidic materials and compounds are naturalized by the addition of bases.
11. Bases are used in the production of cement.
12. Bases such as sodium carbonate and more commonly known as washing soda, are used as cleaning
agents at homes.