| In
chemistry, the degrees of acidity or alkalinity of a substance are
expressed in pH values. The neutral point, where a solution would be
neither acid nor alkaline is pH 7. Increasing acidity is expressed as
a number less than 7, and increasing alkalinity is a number great than
7. Maximum acidity is pH 0 and maximum alkalinity is pH 14. Because
each unit on the scale represents a logarithm, there is 10-fold
difference between each unit (pH 5 is 10 times as acid as pH 6 and pH 4
is 100 times as acid as pH 6. Expressed mathematically, pH is
logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration divided into one - Log 1/H+
An acid is a substance that releases hydrogen into a solution. An alkaline substance is one that removes hydrogen from a solution.
pH is a critical measurement. Life depends upon it. For instance, human
blood is basic with a pH between 7.3 and 7.5. If the pH of blood drops
below 7.3, acidosis occurs. If the blood pH rises above 7.5, alkalosis
occurs. Our human existence depends upon a balanced and buffered blood
pH.
Most body functions occur at only certain levels of acidity or alkalinity,
as well as, many enzymes and chemical reactions work best at a specific
pH. A minute change in pH can have a profound effect on body function.
|