Question

which of the following is a property of both acids and bases?
a. they form solutions that conduct electricity.
b. their solutions taste bitter.
c. they react with metals and produce hydrogen.
d. their solutions feel slippery.

Explanation:

• Option A: Acids and bases, when dissolved in water, form ions (acids produce $H^+$ and anions, bases produce $OH^-$ and cations). These ions are charge carriers, so their aqueous solutions conduct electricity.
• Option B: Acids typically taste sour, while bases taste bitter. So this is not a property of both.
• Option C: Acids react with active metals to produce $H_2$, but bases do not react with metals to produce $H_2$ (except for some amphoteric metals with strong bases, but this is not a general property of all bases).
• Option D: Bases feel slippery, but acids do not. So this is a property of bases only.

Answer:

A. They form solutions that conduct electricity.