Acid vs. Alkaline
Main DifferenceThe main difference between acid and alkaline is that acid has low pH lies below pH 7, whereas alkaline has high pH lies above pH 7.

Difference Between Acid and Alkaline
Acid vs. Alkaline
Acid is a chemical specie that has low pH lies below pH seven, whereas the alkaline solution is a chemical which has high pH lies above pH 7.
Acid vs. Alkaline
An acid solution is composed of H+ ions, while the alkaline solution is composed of OH- ions.
Acid vs. Alkaline
Acid has sour taste where the taste of alkaline solution is bitter.
Acid vs. Alkaline
The texture of acid is sticky; on the other hand, alkaline is slippery in texture.
Acid vs. Alkaline
Bases can neutralize an acid; on the contrary, acid can neutralize the alkaline solution.
Acid vs. Alkaline
The acid rest on the concentration of the hydronium ions; conversely, alkaline depends on the concentration of hydroxide ions.
Acid vs. Alkaline
Phenolphthalein in acid solution remains colorless while phenolphthalein in alkaline solution makes it pink.
Acid vs. Alkaline
Acid changes litmus paper into red, whereas alkaline changes litmus paper into blue.
Acid vs. Alkaline
Acid is frequently used as an electrolyte in batteries, to remove rust from metals, to produce fertilizers, for mineral processing; on the flip side, alkaline is mainly used in cleaning as laundry detergent, as dishwashing, and as stain removers.
Acid vs. Alkaline
Some common examples of the acid include sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, and acetic acid, etc. while examples of alkaline include sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, and magnesium hydroxide.
Acidadjective
Sour, sharp, or biting to the taste; tart; having the taste of vinegar.
acid fruits or liquorsAlkalinenoun
An alkaline battery.
Acidadjective
(figuratively) Sour-tempered.
Alkalineadjective
Of, or relating to an alkali, one of a class of caustic bases.
Acidadjective
Of or pertaining to an acid; acidic.
Alkalineadjective
(chemistry) Having a pH greater than 7.
Acidadjective
(music) Denoting a musical genre that is a distortion (as if hallucinogenic) of an existing genre, as in acid house, acid jazz, acid rock.
Alkalineadjective
relating to or containing an alkali; having a pH greater than 7;
alkaline soils derived from chalk or limestoneAcidnoun
A sour substance.
Acidnoun
(chemistry) Any of several classes of compound having the following properties:-
Acidnoun
Any of a class of water-soluble compounds, having sour taste, that turn blue litmus red, and react with some metals to liberate hydrogen, and with bases to form salts.
Acidnoun
Any compound that easily donates protons; a Brønsted acid
Acidnoun
Any compound that can accept a pair of electrons to form a covalent bond; a Lewis acid
Acidnoun
(slang) lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)
Acidnoun
any of various water-soluble compounds having a sour taste and capable of turning litmus red and reacting with a base to form a salt
Acidnoun
street name for lysergic acid diethylamide
Acidadjective
harsh or corrosive in tone;
an acerbic tone piercing otherwise flowery prosea barrage of acid commentsher acrid remarks make her many enemiesbitter wordsblistering criticismcaustic jokes about political assassination, talk-show hosts and medical ethicsa sulfurous denunciationAcidadjective
containing acid;
an acid tasteComparison Chart
Acid | Alkaline |
An acid is a chemical specie which donates a proton. | An alkaline is any substance which accepts a proton. |
pH | |
Lower than pH 7 | Higher than pH 7 |
Strength | |
Rest on the concentration of the hydronium ions | Depends on the concentration of hydroxide ions |
Ions Present | |
Composed of H+ ions | Composed of OH- ions. |
Taste | |
Sour in taste | Bitter in taste |
Texture | |
Sticky | Slippery |
Neutralization | |
Neutralized by bases | Neutralized by acids |
Phenolphthalein | |
Remains colorless | Changes into pink |
Examples | |
Sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, and acetic acid, etc | Sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, and magnesium hydroxide. |
Acid vs. Alkaline
Acid is a chemical that has low pH lies below pH 7 whereas the alkaline solution is a chemical which has high pH lies above pH 7. An acid solution is composed of H+ ions, while the alkaline solution is composed of OH- ions. Acid has sour taste where the taste of alkaline solution is bitter. The texture of acid is sticky; on the other hand, alkaline is slippery in texture. Bases can neutralize an acid; on the contrary, acid can neutralize the alkaline solution. The acid rest on the concentration of the hydronium ions; conversely, alkaline depends on the concentration of hydroxide ions. Phenolphthalein in acid solution remains colorless while phenolphthalein in alkaline solution makes it pink. Acid changes litmus paper into red, whereas alkaline changes litmus paper into blue. Acid is frequently used as an electrolyte in batteries, to remove rust from metals, to produce fertilizers, for mineral processing; on the flip side, alkaline is mainly used in cleaning as laundry detergent, as dishwashing, and as stain removers. Some common examples of the acid include sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, and acetic acid, etc. while examples of alkaline include sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, and magnesium hydroxide.
What is Acid?
By Arrhenius definition, “an acid is a chemical specie which when dissolved in water gives hydrogen ions in a solution activity greater than in pure water.” Bronstein Lowry defines an acid as a substance which donates a proton. Acid has low pH lower lies below pH 7. It has a sour taste. Acid depending on temperature can occur in solid, liquid, and gaseous form. It is a chemical specie that can be neutralized by a base. In an aqueous solution, they are capable of releasing protons or H+ ions. Frequently, compounds that can accept electrons from a donor are known as Lewis acid. Lewis acid means that some compounds that do not contain H+ ions are also considered as acids. For example, aluminum trichloride (AlCl3) is a Lewis acid. Acid turns litmus paper into the red. Many acids react with metals as they have a corrosive effect on them, forming hydrogen gas (H2) and a salt. Phenolphthalein in acid solution remains colorless. The acid rest on the concentration of the hydronium ions. Acid is frequently used as an electrolyte in batteries, to remove rust from metals, to produce fertilizers and gasoline, for mineral processing, and as additives in food and beverages.
Types
- Strong Acids: That can dissociate completely into its ions.
- Weak Acids: That partially dissociate into its ions.
Examples
Sulfuric acid, Hydrochloric acid, Nitric acid, Acetic acid, Lactic acid, and Citric acid.
What is Alkaline?
By Arrhenius definition, “an alkaline is an aqueous substance that can accept hydrogen ions.” Bronstein Lowry also defines alkaline as any substance which accepts a proton. Alkaline has high pH lies above pH 7. It means alkaline solutions show basic properties because of high pH. So, acid can neutralize the alkaline solution. It has a bitter taste. By texture, alkaline is slippery due to the reaction of alkaline with the oils of our hand. Some solids alkaline except ammonia, are gas. When alkali is dissolved in water, an alkaline solution is formed. Alkali refers to a salt of alkali metals or alkaline earth metals.
The alkaline word is derived from metal elements in group 1 and group 2. The elements of group 1 in the periodic table are called alkali metals. Group 2 elements are called alkaline earth metals. Both these type of metals, when added to water, cause its pH to be increased, because of reaction with water molecules to form metal hydroxide and H2 gas. This metal hydroxide increases the pH of the solution; meanwhile, the concentration of OH- ions increases. Due to the indication of basicity of alkaline solution, it turns red litmus paper into the blue. Some are corrosive, but some alkaline solutions are not.
Examples
Sodium hydroxide, Potassium hydroxide, and Magnesium hydroxide.
ConclusionAbove discussion concludes that acid has low pH lies below pH seven, whereas alkaline has high pH lies above pH 7.