Understanding Biology: What Are Acids, Bases, and the PH Scale
A substance is an acid if it dissociates in water and releases hydrogen ions. Adding an asset to water you will increase the number of hydrogen ions. A common example of acid is something as simple as lemon juice or coffee. An example of a very strong acid is HCl, or hydrochloric acid.
A substance as a base if it either takes up hydrogen ions or releases hydroxide ions. If you add a base to water it will either increase the number of hydroxide ions or decrease the number of hydrogen ions. A common example of a base is something like milk or ammonia. A strong base is something like sodium hydroxide.
The pH scale is a mathematical way to show the number of hydrogen ions that are in a solution. The scale ranges from 0 to 14 and is broken into three common parts. If the pH is below seven, the net means that the substance is classified as an acid, meaning that it has more hydrogen ions than hydroxide ions. If the substance has the pH balance of seven than it is a neutral substance, meaning that the number of hydrogen ions is equal to the number of hydroxide ions. If the pH is above seven and that means that the substance is a base, meaning that it has more hydroxide ions then hydrogen ions. So basically, the closer the numbers to zero, the more acidic the substance is. The closer it is to 14, the more basic it becomes.
Buffers play an important role in pH balance, as they are substances that are found in living organisms that help them maintain a certain range of pH. It is a chemical or combination of chemicals that keep the pH within its normal limits. This happens because it is able to resist a pH change by either taking up excess hydrogen ions or hydroxide ions. For example, a pH of blood is about 7.4, which is very close to neutral. It is maintained by a buffer that keeps it in a range that is necessary for humans to survive.
Published by John Smith
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