Dictionary of Cancer Terms
View in Spanish: ácido
Acid (A-sid)
A chemical that gives off hydrogen ions in water and forms salts by combining with certain metals. Acids have a sour taste and turn certain dyes red. Some acids made by the body, such as gastric acid, can help the body work the way it should. An example of an acid is hydrochloric acid.
Source: National Cancer Institute Dictionary of Cancer Terms, available at www.cancer.gov/dictionary.