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Uses of Acids:

1. Vinegar, used in the kitchen, is a liquid containing 3-6% acetic acid. It is used in pickles and in many food preparations.

2. Lemon and orange juice contains citric acid. Citric acid is used in the preparation of effervescent salts and as a food preservative.

3. Acids have been put to many uses in industry. Nitric acid and sulphuric acid are used in the manufacture of fertilizers, dyes, paints, drugs and explosives.

4. Sulphuric acid is used in batteries, which are used in cars, etc. Tannic acid is used in the manufacture of ink and leather.

5. Hydrochloric acid is used to make aqua regia, which is used to dissolve noble metals such as gold and platinum.

6. Sulphuric acid is used in manufacturing fertilizers such as super phosphate, ammonium sulphate etc.

7. Acids are often used to remove rust and other corrosion from metals in a process known as pickling. 

8.Strong acids, Sulfuric acid in particular, are widely used in mineral processing. For example, phosphate minerals react with sulfuric acid to produce phosphoric acid for the production of phosphate fertilizers, and zinc is produced by dissolving zinc oxide into sulfuric acid, purifying the solution and electrowinning.

9.In the chemical industry, acids react in neutralization reactions to produce salts. For example, nitric acid reacts with ammonia to produce ammonium nitrate, a fertilizer. Additionally, carboxylic acids can be esterified with alcohols, to produce esters.

10.Acids are used as additives to drinks and foods, as they alter their taste and serve as preservatives. Phosphoric acid, for example, is a component of cola drinks. Acetic acid is used in day to day life as vinegar. Carbonic acid is an important part of some cola drinks and soda. Citric acid is used as a preservative in sauces and pickles.

11.Tartaric acid is an important component of some commonly used foods like unripened mangoes and tamarind. Natural fruits and vegetables also contain acids. Citric acid is present in oranges, lemon and other citrus fruits. Oxalic acid is present in tomatoes, spinach, and especially in carambola and rhubarb; rhubarb leaves and unripe carambolas are toxic because of high concentrations of oxalic acid.

12.Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) is an essential vitamin for the human body and is present in such foods as amla, lemon, citrus fruits, and guava.

13.Certain acids are used as drugs. Acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin) is used as a pain killer and for bringing down fevers.

14.Acids play important roles in the human body. The hydrochloric acid present in the stomach aids in digestion by breaking down large and complex food molecules. 

15.Amino acids are required for synthesis of proteins required for growth and repair of body tissues.

16.Fatty acids are also required for growth and repair of body tissues. 

17.Nucleic acids are important for the manufacturing of DNA and RNA and transmitting of traits to offspring through genes. 

18.Carbonic acid is important for maintenance of pH equilibrium in the body.

Different kinds of acids

Mineral acids (inorganic acids)

Hydrogen halides and their solutions: hydrofluoric acid (HF), hydrochloric acid (HCl), hydrobromic acid (HBr), hydroiodic acid (HI)

Halogen oxoacids: hypochlorous acid (HClO), chlorous acid (HClO2), chloric acid (HClO3), perchloric acid (HClO4), and corresponding compounds for bromine and iodine

Sulfuric acid (H2SO4)

Fluorosulfuric acid (HSO3F)

Nitric acid (HNO3)

Phosphoric acid (H3PO4)

Fluoroantimonic acid (HSbF6)

Fluoroboric acid (HBF4)

Hexafluorophosphoric acid (HPF6)

Chromic acid (H2CrO4)

Boric acid (H3BO3)

Sulfonic acids

Methanesulfonic acid (or mesylic acid, CH3SO3H)

Ethanesulfonic acid (or esylic acid, CH3CH2SO3H)

Benzenesulfonic acid (or besylic acid, C6H5SO3H)

p-Toluenesulfonic acid (or tosylic acid, CH3C6H4SO3H)

Trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (or triflic acid, CF3SO3H)

Polystyrene sulfonic acid (sulfonated polystyrene, [CH2CH(C6H4)SO3H]n)

Carboxylic acids

Acetic acid (CH3COOH)

Citric acid (C6H8O7)

Formic acid (HCOOH)

Gluconic acid HOCH2-(CHOH)4-COOH

Lactic acid (CH3-CHOH-COOH)

Oxalic acid (HOOC-COOH)

Tartaric acid (HOOC-CHOH-CHOH-COOH)