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AAT Bioquest

What are bases made of?

Posted January 4, 2024


Answer

The majority of bases are composed of minerals which react with acids (by accepting H+ ions) to produce salts and water. This gives bases the capability to neutralize acids. According to the Brondsted-Lowry model, the definition of a base is any ion or molecule which can accept a proton. Bases typically contain elements such as nitrogen, oxygen, as well as other elements. They often are composed of hydroxide ions, which are able to accept protons via covalent bonds.    

Additional resources

Base

Intracellular pH

Weak Base pH Calculator