How to Analyze an Acid-Base Balance
Analyzing an acid-base balance sounds like a high school science experiment, but it can also offer numerous real-world applications. For example, degenerative diseases such as cancer, heart disease, arthritis, osteoporosis, kidney and gall stones and tooth decay are associated with excess acidity in the body. The way to determine the acidity or alkalinity of a substance is by measuring its pH, or potential hydrogen ions. pH is measured on a scale from zero to 15, with zero being the most acidic, and 15 the most alkaline (or "basic"). A seven on the scale is considered neutral because it is neither acidic nor alkaline. There are different ways to test different substances. For water or body pH testing, a paper test strip is the easiest and most accurate way to test at home. To test soil, home kits are available with a reagent solution.
Things You'll Need
- Steel trowel
- Plastic bucket
- Saliva pH test kit
- Soil pH test kit
- Water pH test kit
Instructions
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The saliva pH test
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1
Collect a generous amount of saliva in your mouth and swallow, twice. The third time, release a small amount of saliva onto the pH paper and wait 10 seconds.
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2
Compare the color showing on the strip to the pH color chart to determine the pH level.
If the paper turns blue, your saliva is healthy and measures at 7.4 which is just slightly alkaline. Wait two hours after eating before testing your saliva.
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3
If it is acid (below 7.0), wait two hours and test again to make sure the reading is correct.
The water pH test
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4
Collect a small vial of water to sample the pH level. Carefully remove one water pH test strip from the package, making sure that you do not touch the test pads.
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Immerse the reagent pads completely in the water and remove after three seconds. Hold the strip horizontally with the pads facing up for 15 seconds.
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Compare the color showing on the pad to the pH color chart to determine the pH level of the water. Pure water has a pH balance of 7.
The soil pH test
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7
Scrape dead leaves and plants from the soil's surface with a non-galvanized steel trowel. Remove a slice of dirt six inches deep and half an inch thick. Remove half an inch of soil from the hole and place in the plastic bucket. Repeat every 10 feet to ensure accurate testing.
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Thoroughly blend the soil in the bucket with the trowel. Drop a small scoop of soil into the test tube vial. Add drops or powder of the pH test solution (depending on which pH test is available).
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Shake and then compare the color in the vial to the color on the comparison chart that is in the test kit. Optimum soil pH varies according to what is being planted.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit bandelette test image by YvesBonnet from Fotolia.com
