You are probably already familiar with some acids and bases we encounter daily. Acids flavor many of the beverages and foods we like, and hydrochloric acid in our stomach helps digest what we eat. Bases also play a role in our lives. The soap we use and the antacid tablet we might take for an upset stomach are bases.
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You have probably already discovered that acidic solutions taste sour and basic solutions taste bitter. Carbonic acids give many carbonated beverages their taste; citric and absorbic acids give lemons and grapefruit their tartness; and acetic acid makes vinegar taste sour.
Bases are substances that counteract acids, which means they reduce or neutralize acids (hence antacids). All water solutions contain hydrogen ions (H+) and hydroxide ions (OH-). The amount of the two ions in a solution determines whether an aqueous solution is acidic, basic, or neutral. Neutral solutions are neither acidic nor basic.
An acidic solution contains more hydrogen ions than hydroxide ions. A basic solution contains more hydroxide ions than hydrogen ions. A neutral solution contains equal concentrations of hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions. Scientific notation is used to express the concentration of H+ because they are often very small numbers. The concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) is expressed using a pH scale. On a pH scale, which ranges from 0 to 14, a 7.0 indicates a neutral pH such as pure water. Basic solutions have a pH value greater than 7.0 and acidic solutions have a pH less than 7.0. For example, battery acid has a pH of 0 which is strongly acidic while an antacid such as milk of magnesium has a pH of 10.5 which is a fairly strong base.
In order for our bodies to perform all the necessary functions required for us to carry out daily activities such as walking, talking, and breathing our bodies must maintain a fairly constant balance of acids and bases to remain healthy and in homeostasis. Homeostasis refers to a state of well-being or the stable and constant regulation of our internal environment needed for our internal cells, tissues and organs to function normally. Homeostasis is determined by the pH level in our blood and it is important that our blood pH be maintained at the proper level of 7.35 to 7.45. Maintaining a pH of 7.40 (perfect blood pH) is equivalent to a concentration of 20 hydroxide ions to 1 hydrogen ion or a ratio of 20:1. Many body functions are dependent on our blood’s ph levels such as our immune system’s ability to fight infection, our pulmonary system’s ability to oxygenate (the process of getting oxygen to our cells, tissues and organs),our cells ability to create energy which is required by the body for metabolic activities, and our body’s ability to control temperature, blood pressure and glucose.
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The post You are probably already familiar with some acids and bases we encounter daily. Acids flavor many of the beverages and foods we like, and hydrochloric acid in our stomach helps digest what we eat. Bases also play a role in our lives. The soap we use and the antacid tablet we might take for an upset stomach are bases. appeared first on My Nursing Papers.
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