Acids and Bases in Everyday Life

Lothar Graudins, Ph.D

COPYRIGHT 2009

We have all heard about the assumed hazards of acids, some of which reportedly “go
right through your skin and eat your flesh.” While certain acids need to be handled with
care, this view is largely tainted by Hollywood sensationalism and social hysteria. In
fact, most acids and bases are not particularly dangerous. Even injury from contact with
the concentrated laboratory versions is minimized to a minor irritation if you quickly
rinse the contact area with cold water. Of course, such injury is easily avoided by proper
storage and handling. To avoid injury to others, all chemicals should be locked up. One
should always wear rubber gloves and goggles whenever you work with common
laboratory acids, namely the mineral acids: Sulfuric, Hydrochloric and Nitric. Sulfuric
Acid, incidentally, has historically been the most important and widely manufactured
chemical. Its annual world-wide production is still measured in the millions of tons. It is
used in numerous industries, such as the manufacture of superphosphate fertilizer and a
host of important agricultural chemicals. Iron and steel industries use Sulfuric acid to
remove oxide coatings. The petroleum industry is a heavy user. This acid is commonly
used in automobile batteries, in the manufacture of explosives, photographic film,
synthetic fibers, medicines, paints and pigments. The mining industry uses dilute
Sulfuric acid to separate ores from raw minerals. Concentrated Sulfuric acid is a
powerful drying agent and is thus used to withdraw water from various reactions. You
may have seen the dramatic reaction, whereby Sulfuric acid is poured over sugar. The
acid removes the water from the molecule, leaving a black and crusty residue of carbon.
Considerable heat is released in this reaction, as is the case whenever the concentrated
acid is diluted with water. It is for this reason that water is never added to concentrated
sulfuric acid. Instead, when making a dilution, you must slowly add the acid to the
larger amount of cold water.

Organic acids and bases are widely used in our body to regulate a variety of functions.
They tend to be very weak in comparison to mineral acids. There are a variety of
(chiefly) organic acids and weak bases commonly found in the home. Such substances
are found in our foods, medicines and cleaning products. Consider the following:

1.) Acids are sour-tasting. Lemon juice and vinegar are common acids. I have
mentioned battery acid, because it is commonly used in our automobiles.

2.) Bases, or alkaline substances, taste bitter. Baking soda, “Tums”(an anti-acid
tablet, ) Milk of Magnesia, Lime water and household lye (example: “Drano”) are
 examples of bases.

The measurement of relative strength of either acids or bases is done with a pH scale.
By strength, in general, we mean the degree to which ions are formed. In this case, we
mean hydrogen ions. Technically, the hydrogen ion concentration is measured on a scale
of 1 to 14, with a neutral point at 7. Water is considered to have a pH of 7, where we
find hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions in balance. If you move up the scale, the
substance is increasingly alkaline. Moving down the scale means a higher number of
hydrogen ions, or an acid environment. Each step on the scale is based on a factor of 10.
For example, a pH of 6 means 10 times the acidity from neutral 7. A pH of 5 means 100
times the acidity from neutral. Conversely, a pH of 9, means a 100 times the alkalinity
from neutral. The chart A in the index illustrates this relationship. Note that positive
exponents are used in designating pH. For example, lemon juice has a pH of 2, whereas
baking soda, on the alkaline side, has a pH of 8.

In summary:

1.) An acid is a solution that has an excess of hydrogen (H+) ions. A base is a
solution with an excess of hydroxyl (OH-) ions.
2.) A strong acid is an acid that has a very low pH (0-4). A strong base has a very
high pH (10-14).
3.) Weak acids and bases only partially ionize in a water solution.

Certain complex organic substances such as vegetable dyes may serve as indicators or
coloring agents that form colors at certain pH levels. One such indicator is found in red
cabbage juice. You can easily extract this indicator. Concentrated red cabbage juice is
obtained by shredding red cabbage and either extracting the juice with a blender and
cold water, or, by boiling the cabbage for 15 minutes. Pour the extract through a coffee
filter and refrigerate. Cabbage juice is deep purple in color in a neutral environment (pH
7). In the presence of an acid, it turns deep red. With alkaline substances, it changes
color to a striking deep green. Corresponding colors are obtained for subtle pH changes.

Figure 1 below shows the brilliant colors of four pH values.

Figure 1. Brilliant colors are produced with Cabbage juice indicator. Starting with
the bottom tube, the approximate pH values are 2, 5, 7 and 14.

Experiment: Determining the approximate pH value of common substances.

In this experiment you will test different substances with cabbage juice indicator and
note resulting colors. Next, a number of standards are developed that indicate
approximate pH values.

What you will need:

1.) 100ml of concentrated indicator solution made from fresh red cabbage. (See
above for preparation.)
2) 5 ml of battery acid (dilute Sulfuric) or dilute Hydrochloric acid.*
 3)10ml of fresh lemon juice, filtered through a coffee filter.
4.) 5ml of household vinegar (dilute Acetic acid)
5.) 5ml milk
6.)Baking soda (Sodium Bicarbonate) solution. Mix 1 tsp. of baking soda with 20ml
of water.
7.) 5ml household Ammonia (dilute Ammonium Hydroxide)
8.)5ml of dilute lye (Sodium Hydroxide)solution. Dissolve ½ tsp. Lye in 5ml water.

9.) 10 small test tubes and rack

10.) Several eye droppers

*If this experiment is used for a science fair project or in a public setting, avoid using
reagents (2) and (8).

Procedure:

Line up each of the test tubes and add 10ml of cabbage juice indicator solution to each
tube. Number the tubes and add 5 drops of each solution, from #2 through #8.Be sure
you rinse the dropper(s) thoroughly after each addition. Shake well. Use a white sheet of
paper behind the tubes to better see the colors. List the approximate pH value for each
tube. (Refer to Appendix, pH scale )

Have a friend or companion prepare several solutions just as you did, but in your
absence. Can you match these “unknowns” to your samples? Standards are made by
using known concentrations associated with a specific color. These standards are then
compared with a sample of an unknown concentration. The use of standards, known
concentrations or known characteristics of some physical phenomenon is common
throughout the science of chemistry. We can compare something we have measured or
quantified with something we wish to measure. A balance is a simple example. When we
wish to know the mass(weight) of an object, we compare it to some known weight until
balance is achieved.

A practical application:

If you have access to a pool or a jacuzzi, the above experiment will help you to
understand pH values as well as the use of indicators. In fact, the basic need for a pool is
to balance or stabilize the pH level. In turn, this allows the chlorine (or bromine) to
function effectively. It is important to initially know about the characteristic of the water
in your area of the country. In Nevada, for example, untreated water often has high
levels of calcium carbonate, an alkaline material that reads well above 7 on the pH scale.
For effective chlorination, we would like the pH to read between 7.2 to 7.8. The chlorine
level is ideally between 1.5 to 3.00 parts per million (ppm), although this range could be
extended from 3-5 ppm in a spa.

Don't be afraid of using a test kit. (See Figure 2.) A kit such as this uses phenol red as an
indicator of the pH value. Chlorine or Bromine levels are read in ppm. Notice the use of
color standards that are easily read and allow you to compare colors with known pH
values. The test takes only a few minutes and given you reasonably accurate data. At this
point, depending upon the readings, you can use an included chart to tell you how much
of a chemical to add. This of course will depend upon the size of your pool or spa. Once
you stabilize the water, it takes little effort to maintain. You will develop an intuitive
sense (based upon careful observation) on how much of chlorine or acid (to lower pH) to
add.

Figure 2. An inexpensive and easy to use test kit will provide the pH and
chlorine levels of your pool or spa water.

I recommend using Muriatic (Hydrochloric Acid) to lower the pH. This is usually
available from a pool store. Powdered material (sometimes called pH Down) tends to
precipitate insoluble salts. This makes the water very cloudy. If you need to raise the
pH, an alkaline additive such as soluble Sodium Carbonate is available. A commercial
product, pH Increaser, has 97% available Sodium Carbonate.

In summary:

1.) Call a local pool business or your municipal water company to find out about the
kind of water in your area.
2.) Buy and use a simple test kit. You can do this!
3.) Keep your pool clean of debris.
4.) Stabilize and enjoy the water.