Mineral Acids:

• hydrochloric acid,HCl
  cleaning metals and mortar,
  used in swimming pools to adjust pH,
  found in stomach

• sulfuric acid, H₂SO₄
  used in car batteries,
  used to make fertilizers (sulfate of ammonia and superphosphate),
  plastics, detergents, dyes, drugs, explosives

• nitric acid,HNO₃
  used in the manufacture of fertilizers, explosives (TNT and dynamite)

• phosphoric acid,H₃PO₄
  used as a food acid and in anti-rust products for cars

Organic Acids:

• methanoic acid (formic acid), HCOOH
  found in ant stings

• ethanoic acid (acetic acid), CH₃COOH
  found in vinegar

• butanoic acid (butyric acid), C₃H₇COOH
  the acid that gives rancid butter its characteristic smell

Alkalis (water soluble bases):

• sodium hydroxide, NaOH
  caustic soda

• potassium hydroxide, KOH
  caustic potash

• aqueous ammonia, NH₃(aq)

• sour taste

• turn blue litmus red

• electrical conductors

• corrode most metals

• react with carbonates and bicarbonates

• neutralise bases

• bitter taste

• change red litmus blue

• electrical conductors

• slippery feel

• neutralise acids

• are aqueous solutions

• have hydrogen ions in their structure, eg, HCl

does not account for amphoteric substances
(those that can act as an acid or a base)

• are aqueous solutions (alkalis)

• have OH^- already in their structures, eg, NaOH

does not account for amphoteric substances
(those that can act as an acid or a base)