18 PRELIMINARY EXPERIMENTS 



This process of combining an acid with a base is called 

 neutralization. 



Now taste the contents of the tube. Is it sour like acids 

 or bitter like bases? Does it have the roughish feel of an 

 acid or the slippery feel of a base ? Has it the sharp pungent 

 odor of hydrochloric acid or the soapy smell of caustic soda ? 

 What does it taste like ? 



Conclusion. State (a) the characteristics of acids, (6) of 

 bases. What -is meant by neutralization? What results 

 from neutralizing hydrochloric acid with caustic soda ? 



Definition. A salt is a substance which results from 

 neutralization of an acid with a base. 



Suggestions. Test limewater, ammonia, fruit juices, 

 milk, soap, saliva, molasses, etc., and determine which are 

 acid, which are neutral substances, and which are bases. 



