Tasting Sour. Acids.

Acids are sour tasting substances.

The word acid comes from the Latin word acere which means sour.

Hence, food items such as vinegar, fruits including oranges, lemons, tamarind, youghurt, which contain acids taste sour.

Substances containing acids are known as acidic substances.

Acids are a class of chemical compounds which are corrosive in nature.

Corrosive means eroding or erosive.

Acids are used for cleaning surfaces due to their corrosive action. Strong acids can even dissolve metals.

Natural acids

We get Citric Acid from lemon, orange and sweet lime.

Since, the name of the acid is citric acid the fruits containing only this acid are called citric fruits.

We get Tartaric Acid from tamarind, grapes and unripe mangoes.

We get Lactic Acid from yoghurt and buttermilk.

We get Acetic Acid from vinegar.

We get Formic Acid from ant sting.

We get Ascorbic Acid from cabbage and citrus fruits.

Mineral Acids

Acids which are obtained from one or more inorganic compounds are called as inorganic or mineral acids.

These acids are very corrosive.

Mineral acids are used in laboratories to perform various reactions.

Some examples are:

Sulphuric Acid

Hydrochloric Acid

Nitric Acid