What are the important distinctions between an acid and a base?

The key difference between acids and bases is that acids form hydrogen ions, while in contrast bases accept hydrogen ions. In other words, a base is a proton acceptor, and an acid is a proton donor. Bases and acids also neutralize each other when they react and form salts and water as a result. When an acid reacts with a metal, it typically produces a salt and hydrogen gas as a byproduct. In contrast, when a base reacts with a metal, it results in the formation of a metal and hydrogen gas, the metal does not become displaced. Another key distinguishing factor between the two are the pH levels. Bases have pH levels above 7, while acids have pH levels below 7. In addition, bases tend to have a bitter taste, while acids tend to have a sour taste.