Here's why:
* Acids can taste sour or sharp. Think of lemon juice or vinegar.
* Alkalis can taste bitter or soapy. Think of baking soda dissolved in water.
To determine if something is acidic or alkaline, you need to use a pH scale:
* pH below 7: Acidic
* pH above 7: Alkaline (basic)
* pH of 7: Neutral
Therefore, "sharp" alone doesn't tell us if something is acidic or alkaline. You need more information about the substance.