Almost everyone knows the formula for water, H2O. Two H2O molecules are pictured on the left side of the equation above with the red balls representing an oxygen atoms and the white balls representing hydrogen atoms. But, did you know that water can break down into two particles, H+ and OH-. The H+ particle is called acid and the OH- is called base. The H+ however quickly attaches to another water molecule and exists as a H3O+. If the concentration of H3O+ and OH- are the same, then the water is pH balanced, non toxic. However, if H3O+ is greater than the OH-, then the water is said to be acidic. Chemicals added to water can turn water into poisonous acid or base solutions.