Which property is characteristic of acids?

The property characteristic of acids is that they produce hydrogen ions in solution. This is a fundamental behavior of acids, defined by the Arrhenius theory, which states that acids increase the concentration of hydrogen ions (H⁺) when dissolved in water. This ionization is responsible for the characteristic properties of acidic solutions, such as their sour taste and ability to conduct electricity.

When an acid like hydrochloric acid (HCl) dissolves in water, it dissociates completely to yield hydrogen ions and chloride ions. The release of H⁺ ions is what allows acids to react with bases in neutralization reactions and provides the underlying mechanism for many acid-related phenomena in chemistry.

The other options represent properties associated with different types of substances. For example, bitter taste and slippery feel are common characteristics of bases rather than acids, while litmus paper turning yellow is indicative of acidic conditions, specifically with certain types of indicators, rather than a general property of acids.