Question

Taste of most of the acidic substances are:
A. sweet
B. salty
C. sour
D. bitter

Answer 1

Acids are substances which have a tendency to donate hydronium ion in aqueous solution. They change the blue litmus into red. Acids have a particular taste and they can be differentiated from the bases with that taste. Let us see what the taste is, and why acids taste so.

Complete step-by-step answer: According to Bronsted-Lowry definition, acids include any substance that gives up its hydrogen ions $\left( {{H}^{+}} \right)$when mixed with another substance.
Acids in general have sour taste. Acids are sour in taste because of their hydrogen ion concentration. Medical science believes that the human tongue determines taste through several channels. The taste buds that register sour and salty flavors do so through ion channels.
Acids increase the hydrogen ion concentration $\left( {{H}^{+}} \right)$ which provides more ions for the tongue. Because the tongue gains excessive ions it registers the taste as sour in nature.
We should remember that acidity can be measured by the pH level of a solution. The lower the Ph of the solution the taste is much sour. And the more acidic the compound is.
For example: If you have tasted lemon ever in your life, you might have felt the taste is very sour. It is because lemon contains an acid called citric acid in it.
If you have tasted tamarind (also called Imlee in Hindi) ever in your life, you might have felt that it is sour. It is because it contains tartaric acid in it.

Note: Some acids like sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid cannot be tasted as they are so corrosive and can destroy major tissues of the body. These can be recognized by their effect on certain chemicals or substances called indicators. Turmeric is also an example of indicator.