Substances that counteract the corrosive results of acids by reacting with them to type water and a salt are sometimes known as bases. Widespread examples embrace sodium hydroxide (NaOH), typically utilized in drain cleaners, and calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2), a key ingredient in cement. The power of a base is set by its skill to dissociate and launch hydroxide ions (OH–) in resolution.
These compounds play a significant function in varied chemical processes, environmental regulation, and organic methods. They’re important for sustaining pH stability within the human physique, neutralizing acidic soils in agriculture, and treating industrial wastewater. Traditionally, the understanding and utilization of those substances have been basic to developments in chemistry, from the event of cleaning soap to the manufacturing of prescribed drugs.
