1. Hydrogen ions (H+): Acids produce H+ ions when dissolved in water. When a substance has more H+ ions, it is considered more acidic. On the other hand, compounds that produce low amounts of H+ ions in water are less acidic.
2. Hydroxide ions (OH-): Bases produce OH- ions when dissolved in water. The more OH- ions a substance produces, the stronger its base characteristics. A high OH- ion concentration typically indicates a basic solution.
3. pH: The pH scale measures the acidity or basicity of a solution on a numerical scale from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral. A pH below 7 indicates acidity, while a pH above 7 denotes basicity. The higher the H+ ion concentration, the lower the pH value, making the solution more acidic. Conversely, higher OH- ion concentration results in a higher pH value, indicating greater basicity.
