Bases

What is a base?

A base is a molecule which can absorb a proton. The opposite of acids. Acids are proton donors and bases are proton acceptors.

Bases are important in the History of the Universe because Life uses bases in nucleic acids to carry information. See the page Nucleic Acid Bases for more information.

Also the molecules called amino acids which make up the proteins upon which life depends contain an amino group NH ₂ which is a base.

Other bases occur in nature, including the alkalis.