Acids and Bases in Nature
There are many strong acids and bases in nature. Some of them
are dangerous and used as poisons by insects and animals.
Some are helpful. Many plants have acids and bases in their
leaves, seeds, or even their sap. Citrus fruits like lemons and
oranges have citric acid in their juice. This is what makes
lemons taste so sour.
Acids and Bases in our Bodies
Our bodies use acids and bases too. Our stomachs use
hydrochloric acid to help digest foods. This strong acid also
kills bacteria and helps to keep us from getting sick. Our
muscles produce lactic acid when we exercise. Also, our pancreas
uses a base called an alkali to help with digestion. These are just
a few examples of how the chemistry of bases and acids help our
bodies function.
Other Uses
Science and technology makes good use of acids and bases. Car
batteries use a strong acid called sulphuric acid. Chemical
reactions between the acid and lead plates in the battery help
make electricity to start the car. They are also used in many
household cleaning products, baking soda, and to make
fertilizer for crops.
Fun Facts
Acids and bases can help neutralize each other.
Acids turn litmus paper red, bases turn it blue.
Strong bases can be slippery and slimy feeling.
Acids taste sour, bases taste bitter.
Proteins are made up of amino acids.
Vitamin C is also an acid called ascorbic acid.
Ammonia is a base chemical.
pH Scale
Scientists use something called a pH scale to measure how
acidic or basic a liquid is. pH is a number from 0 to 14. From 0
to 7 are acids, with 0 being the strongest. From 7 to 14 are bases
with 14 being the strongest base. If a liquid has a pH of 7, it's
neutral. This would be something like distilled water.
In the chemical INDUSTRY
Alkalis like lime (calcium oxide, CaO) and limestone (calcium
carbonate, CaCO3) are used to reduce the acidity in soil, the
neutralisation reaction produces the optimum pH for crops to
grow.
Sodium hydroxide NaOH, one of the most commonly used
alkalis, is used to neutralise aspirin making 'soluble aspirin'.
Aspirin is an organic acid and not very soluble in water, but,
its sodium salt is much more soluble and is
absorbed faster by the body for more effective
treatment.
These are important agri–chemical fertilisers supplying
nitrogen to the soil for better plant growth. Of course some people
prefer organic growing using good old muck and compost, but
it doesn't involve neutralisation, but it does involve my wife,
who is a member of the Soil Association! NPK fertilisers for
agriculture contain potassium, ammonium and phosphate
salts.
Acids can be used to clean corroded metal surfaces because of
their reactivity to metals and metal oxides to form soluble
salts which can be washed away to leave a cleaner metal
surface. Concentrated acid solutions are used to remove
limescale from the ceramic (unreactive) sides of toilets.
Limescale is the build–up of a limestone like deposit in areas of
hard water.
FOODS THAT CONTAINS
ACID & ALKALINE
MY BIODATA
NAME :
VIMESH S/O SURESH
YEAR : 5 PILOT
DATE OF BIRTH : 07 MAY 2008
FATHER’S NAME : MR. N. SURESH
MOTHER’S NAME: MRS.R. VISAHLANI
SIBLINGS : SHARMITHAA
HOBBY : READING BOOKS
AMBITION : SCIENTIST
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