19) Acids, Bases and pH.

Like salts, acids and bases are electrolytes, they ionize and dissociate in water and can then conduct an electrical current

Acids- have a sour taste and can react with (dissolve) many metals. Acids release hydrogen ions (H+) in detectable amounts. Because hydrogen ions are hydrogen nucleuses or "naked" protons, acids are also defined as proton donors. When acids dissolve in water, they release hydrogen ions (protons) and anoins. The concentration of protons determine the acidity of a solution. An example of an acid in the body is acetic acid.

Bases- have a bitter taste and feel slippery. Bases are proton acceptors because they take up hydrogen ions (H+) in detectable amounts. Common inorganic bases include the hydroxides which, dissociate when dissolved in water but in this case, hydroxyl ions (OH-) and cations are liberated. An example of a base in the body is the bicarbonate ion.

pH- the relative concentration of hydrogen in various body fluids is measured in concentration units called pH units. The more hydrogen ions, the more acidic a solution is. The more hydroxyl ions, the more basic a solution is. Acids have a pH of 1-6, and the closer to a pH of one the stronger the acid is. A weak acid would be urine and a strong acid would be lemon juice. Bases have a pH of 8-14, and the closer to a pH of fourteen the stronger the base is. A weak base would be egg white and a strong base would be bleach. At a pH of seven, the concentrations of hydrogen and hydroxyl ions are equal and the solution is neutral. Water, human blood and semen have a pH of seven.