ACIDS & BASES (pH)

ACIDS Compounds that release a large number of H+ (hydronium ions) in water The more H+, the stronger the acid Taste sour

Bases Compounds that release a large number of OH- (hydroxide ions) in water The more OH-, the stronger the base Taste bitter, feel slippery

pH Scale—measures the strength of an acid or base Acids and bases are important to living organisms to maintain their “bodily” processes pH Scale—measures the strength of an acid or base Measures the H+ ion concentration. Spans from 0 to 14 7 14 ACIDS BASES NEUTRAL Strong Weak

Indicators—a special type of compound that changes color as the pH of a solution changes, thus telling us the pH of a solution.

Litmus—only tells if acid or base, not how strong Turns red in acid Turns blue in base pH paper—will tell strength of acid or base Turns different colors that match to a number

Humans (& other organisms) have many areas of body with different pH levels blood = slightly basic Stomach acid and urine= acidic Living organisms are very sensitive to changes in pH. Enzymes can function only at very specific pH’s