Third Grade
Worksheets
Chemistry by the Numbers: Acids and Bases
Why do lemons taste sour? Why does soap feel slick? These things happen because of two kinds of chemicals called acids and bases.
Acids are sour chemicals. Some are found in your kitchen. Almost everything that tastes sour has acid in it. Lime and lemon juice are acids. So are grapes, green apples, and sour milk. Grapefruit and many other foods have acids.
Everyone has stomach acid. This acid helps us digest our food. Some acids are used to flavor foods. Acids also help turn milk into cheese. They turn cucumbers into pickles. Many vitamins are acids that our bodies need to grow. Vitamin C is an acid. It helps our bodies fight colds and heal wounds. Without enough Vitamin C, people can get a disease called scurvy.
