1. pH our digestive system :
Our stomach produces hydrochloric acid (pH about 1.4) which helps in digesting our food without harming our stomach. Sometimes excess of acid is produced for various reasons that causes indigestion causing pain. In order to cure indigestion, bases are taken as antacid. Antacids are mild bases having no toxic effect on our body. Bases being basic in nature, antacids react with excess acid in the stomach and neutralize it. Eg: Magnesium Hydroxide (Milk of magnesia) and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda).
2. pH change as the cause of tooth decay :
When we eat food containing sugar, then bacteria present in mouth break down sugar and produce lactic acid. This acid lowers the pH in the mouth making it acidic. Tooth decay starts when pH of acid formed in mouth falls below 5.5. This is because the acid becomes strong enough to attack the enamel of our teeth and corrode it that sets in tooth decay. Though tooth enamel is made of calcium phosphate that is the hardest material in our body, but it starts corroding when the pH of the mouth is lower than 5.5.
3. Many tooth paste contain bases to neutralize the mouth acid and prevent tooth decay.
4. Most of the plants grow best when pH of soil is close to 7. If the soil is too acidic or too basic, plants grow badly or don't grow at all. If the soil is too acidic then it is treated with materials like quick lime(calcium oxide) or slaked lime(calcium hydroxide) to reduce the acidity. If the soil is too alkaline, it can be reduced by adding decaying organic matter.
Our stomach produces hydrochloric acid (pH about 1.4) which helps in digesting our food without harming our stomach. Sometimes excess of acid is produced for various reasons that causes indigestion causing pain. In order to cure indigestion, bases are taken as antacid. Antacids are mild bases having no toxic effect on our body. Bases being basic in nature, antacids react with excess acid in the stomach and neutralize it. Eg: Magnesium Hydroxide (Milk of magnesia) and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda).
2. pH change as the cause of tooth decay :
When we eat food containing sugar, then bacteria present in mouth break down sugar and produce lactic acid. This acid lowers the pH in the mouth making it acidic. Tooth decay starts when pH of acid formed in mouth falls below 5.5. This is because the acid becomes strong enough to attack the enamel of our teeth and corrode it that sets in tooth decay. Though tooth enamel is made of calcium phosphate that is the hardest material in our body, but it starts corroding when the pH of the mouth is lower than 5.5.
3. Many tooth paste contain bases to neutralize the mouth acid and prevent tooth decay.
4. Most of the plants grow best when pH of soil is close to 7. If the soil is too acidic or too basic, plants grow badly or don't grow at all. If the soil is too acidic then it is treated with materials like quick lime(calcium oxide) or slaked lime(calcium hydroxide) to reduce the acidity. If the soil is too alkaline, it can be reduced by adding decaying organic matter.
