Acids, Bases and pH The Power of Hydrogen
pH Scale Tells us the concentration (how much) H+ ions in a solution Ranges from 0-14 7 is neutral Equal concentration of H+ and OH- ions Example: Water
pH Scale Lower pH = Greater H+ ion concentration Solutions ranging from 0-6.9 are acidic Higher pH= Greater OH- solution Solutions ranging from 7.1-14 are basic
pH Scale
Acids Any compound that forms H+ ions in a solution pH value of below 7 Strong acids have a pH of 0-3 The lower you go on the scale the stronger the acid The stomach produces hydrochloric acid (strong) to help digest food Taste sour
Bases Any substance that produces OH- (Hydroxide) ions pH value above 7 May also be referred to as Alkaline Strong bases have a pH of 11-14 The higher you go on the scale the stronger the base Example: Hand soap is a weak base, Bleach is a strong base
Buffers Weak acids or bases that help control pH levels The human body stays between 6.5-7.5 and uses buffers to maintain a steady pH Human blood is slightly basic while human saliva is slightly acidic Why do you think saliva is acidic?