Extra Knowledge:
About Acids

All through this story of aspirin we have been talking a lot about acids. You have learned that aspirin is acetylsalicylic acid, and that your stomach is full of hydrochloric acid (HCl). But what is an acid? What does the word acid mean?

When most people hear the word acid they think of a beaker with choking smoke and poisonous vapors rising out of it. And inside that beaker is a liquid that will burn like fire if it touches you and will eat through your skin and anything else it spills on.

We're very sorry to say that the truth is not nearly as exciting. A lot of different compounds are acids. Some, like sulfuric acid, really will give you terrible burns if you touch them. But many acids are much tamer. Vinegar contains acetic acid. Orange juice contains citric acid. Speaking of orange juice, vitamin C is also an acid, ascorbic acid to be exact.

About Acids Menu Molecules that Fall Apart The Weak and the Strong Acids, Bases, and Salts Water: Acid and Base

For more information at other Web sites...

Acid-Base Balance: a Tutorial — a comprehensive tutorial of acid-base chemistry, from Tulane University.

Acid and Base pH Tutorial — from the University of British Columbia.