Caustic soda and potassium hydroxide are examples of:

Caustic soda and potassium hydroxide are examples of:

• A. Acids
• B. Bases
• C. Salts
• D. Oxidizers

Answer: (B)

These substances are bases because they release hydroxide ions in solution, making the solution alkaline. In the Arrhenius sense, a base increases the concentration of OH− when dissolved. Sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide dissociate to give Na+ plus OH−, and K+ plus OH−, respectively. That hydroxide ion production is what defines them as bases. They are not acids (which donate H+), not salts (neutral ionic compounds formed from acid–base reactions), and not oxidizers (which participate in electron transfer). Their strong, caustic nature is a characteristic hazard in HazMat contexts.

These substances are bases because they release hydroxide ions in solution, making the solution alkaline. In the Arrhenius sense, a base increases the concentration of OH− when dissolved. Sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide dissociate to give Na+ plus OH−, and K+ plus OH−, respectively. That hydroxide ion production is what defines them as bases. They are not acids (which donate H+), not salts (neutral ionic compounds formed from acid–base reactions), and not oxidizers (which participate in electron transfer). Their strong, caustic nature is a characteristic hazard in HazMat contexts.