What are acids, bases, and salts?

Acids are substances that have a sour taste and can turn blue litmus paper red. They release hydrogen ions (H+) in solution. Bases are bitter-tasting substances that feel slippery and turn red litmus paper blue; they release hydroxide ions (OH-) in solution. Salts are formed when an acid reacts with a base, resulting in a neutralization reaction, and they often consist of the cation from the base and the anion from the acid.