Bases

NaOH à Na⁺  + OH^-

The blue color indicates that the paper is in an acid medium.

Bases are compounds capable of dissociating in aqueous media releasing ions, of which a single anion is OH-.

* Form electrolytic solutions (conduct electricity).

Ex: NaOH, KOH, NH4 OH

* React with acids by neutralizing reactions and generate salt and water as products.

Ex: H2SO4 + 2NaOH à Na2 SO4 + 2H2O

* Act as acid-base indicators.

Bases are also important for pH reading, solutions with pH higher than 7 are basic. There are several acid-base indicators to identify if the compound is basic, the most commonly used is litmus, but there are others that can also be used. As for force, the bases are determined from their degree of dissociation, for strong bases (value greater than 5%), for weak (value equal to or less than 5%).

LENZI, Ervim, Química Geral Experimental, 2.ed. Rio de Janeiro: F. Bastos, 2012CHRISTOFF, Paulo, Química Geral, Curitiba: Intersaberes, 2015