In short, an acid is a compound that can give up a hydrogen ion (a proton, H+) in solution. A base is a compound that can accept a proton. If you're looking at chemical equations, the acid will be the compound with more hydrogen atoms.Usually, an acid is positively charged.n short, an acid is a compound that can give up a hydrogen ion (a proton, H+) in solution. A base is a compound that can accept a proton. If you're looking at chemical equations, the acid will be the compound with more hydrogen atoms.
The lithosphere is the brittle outer layer of the solid Earth. The plates of plate tectonics are segments of the lithosphere. Its top is easy to see -- it's at the Earth's surface -- but the base of the lithosphere is in a transition, which is an active area of research.
Note that some plates consist entirely of oceanic lithosphere, whereas some plates consist of both oceanic and continental lithosphere. Also, note that not all plates are the same size (figure above c). Some plate boundaries follow continental margins, the boundary between a continent and an ocean, but others do not.