| − | An '''acid''' is a [[molecule]] that donates H<sup>+</sup> [[ions]] ([[proton]]s) in a chemical reaction. Acids taste sour (although, in a laboratory, '''never''' taste an acid; they can be highly corrosive) and turn blue [[litmus paper]] red. Acids are covalent compounds, but when dissolved in [[water]], they will conduct electricity. When an acid is put into water, it will loose its H<sup>+</sup>, a process called aqueous dissonance. [[Strong acid]]s are those that completly give up their protons in solution, whereas [[weak acid]]s reach an equilibrium concentration of H<sup>+</sup> in solution. | + | An '''acid''' is a [[molecule]] that donates H<sup>+</sup> [[ions]] ([[proton]]s) in a chemical reaction. Acids taste sour (although, in a laboratory, '''never''' taste an acid; they can be highly corrosive) and turn blue [[litmus paper]] red. Acids are covalent compounds, but when dissolved in [[water]], they will conduct electricity. When an acid is put into water, it will loose its H<sup>+</sup>, a process called aqueous dissonance. [[Strong acid]]s are those that completly give up their protons in solution, whereas [[weak acid]]s reach an equilibrium concentration of H<sup>+</sup> in solution. Many [[organic molecule]]s that play important roles in biological processes are also acids, such as [[amino acid]]s and [[carboxylic acid]]s. |