PH Experiment And Environmental Significance

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What is PH and why does it matter?

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The term pH refers to the acidity or alkalinity of a solution.

Substance that release hydrogen ions when dissolved in water are acids.

The more hydrogen ions they release the more acidic they are.

Substances that release hydroxide ions when dissolved in water are bases.

Alkalinity increases with the concentration of hydroxyl ions.

Each pH unit represents a 10-fold change in concentration.

https://mitte.co/2018/01/30/alkaline-water-is-it-really-good/
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Our Experiment

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We will compare the pH of the following:

Vinegar

​Ammonia Solution

Lemon Juice

Baking Soda Solution

Alka-Seltzer Solution

Record your results in your worksheet
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Why does pH matter?

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https://water-research.net/index.php/ph-in-the-environment
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https://www.fondriest.com/environmental-measurements/parameters/water-quality/ph/

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In general, fish reproduction is affected at pH levels below 5.0

Fish begin to die when pH falls below 4.0 

A pH change of 1 means a ten fold change in the ions.

pH 9 is ten times more basic than pH 8

pH stands for potential of hydrogen, a measurement of the acidity r alkalinity of a solution

7 is neutral

1 to 6 are acids

​8 to 14 are bases
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Acids

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Acids are substance that break apart in water to form a hydrogen ion.

• Have a pH that is less than 7, smaller number means more acidic
• React with metals and carbonates
• Release Hydrogen ions (these are created when Hydrogen loses an electron so it has a positive charge)
• Have a sour taste
• React with bases to form water and salt

Everyday Acids
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• Tea
• Vinegar
• Citrus foods 

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Acids react with carbonates to give off carbon dioxide
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Bases

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Bases are substance that break down in water and form hydroxide ions (OH-).

The greater the concentration of OH- ions the stronger the base is.

Have a pH from 8 to 14

pH 9 is ten times more basic than pH 8

Bases

• Release hydroxide ions (negatively charged ions made of one hydrogen bonded to one oxygen). 
• feel slippery
• bitter taste
• react with acids to form water and salt

Everyday examples:

• Baking soda
• Bleach 
• Soap

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More on Acids and Bases

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​Some plants tell us the pH of their soil by expressing different colors of flowers. 
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• For true blue flowers, the hydrangeas need to be grown in acidic soil (pH 5.5 and lower).

 

• For pink flowers, the plants need neutral to alkaline soils (pH 6.5 and higher).

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• For purple blooms (or a mix of blue and pink flowers on the same plant), the pH of the soil must be 5.5 and pH 6.5.

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https://www.espoma.com/learn-grow/gardening-projects/hydrangeas-true-blue-or-tickled-pink/
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Venom is Acidic

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A sting from a bee may be painful for many reasons, pH of bee venom is 5.0-5.5

Formic acid in ants has a pH of 2 to 3

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Ph can be different in various parts on an environment

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• When it rains or we use water for irrigation, water goes downhill, down the gradient of the earth

 

• There is a connection between the water that move across land and the pH of bodies of water such as lakes, rives, ponds, and the sea

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• Let's learn about watersheds