What term describes a substance that tastes bitter and feels slippery?

• A. Base
• B. Acid
• C. Salt
• D. Indicator

Answer: (A)

Substances that taste bitter and feel slippery are bases. This combination of taste and texture is a typical way to recognize basic solutions, since bases tend to feel slippery and have a bitter taste in familiar contexts. Acids, by contrast, are usually described as sour and don't have that slippery feel. Indicators are chemicals used to show pH by changing color, not by taste or texture, and salts are products of acid–base reactions rather than the defining trait of a substance’s taste or feel. In water, bases often provide OH− ions and can neutralize acids, forming water and a salt. Common examples include soap, ammonia, and baking soda.