Definition of acidic

The word "acidic" originates from the Latin word "acidus," meaning "sour" or "sharp." This term likely arose from the taste of acidic substances like vinegar and citrus fruits. In the 17th century, chemists started to explore the properties of acids, leading to the development of the concept of acidity. They discovered that acids had a common property of turning litmus paper red and reacting with bases to form salts. Over time, the term "acidic" evolved to encompass this broader scientific understanding, describing substances with a high concentration of hydrogen ions (H+).