ELI5, what the heck is the difference between a base and an acid?
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Water is H2O. Two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. Some of the water molecules will be separated into H and OH. This happens naturally even in pure water.
An acid is when the water has a greater than normal number of H ions. A base is when the water has a greater than normal number of OH ions. Usually this happens by dissolving some other chemical in the water that reacts to create either an acid or base.
E.G. hydrogen chloride dissolved in water is hydrochloric acid because the H from the HCl dissolved in water creates more H ions
Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) dissolved in water creates a base because there are now extra OH ions floating about.
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